BOATGOLDCOAST.COM.AU | FEB-APR 2016
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WOMEN OF GC BOATING Page 44
SUNSET SAILING
Page 22
WAKEBOARD WORLD CHAMP FROM BENOWA
SYC TWILIGHT SAILING RACES
FISHIN’ FOR FREEDOM MEET THE ROYAL SLAMMERS
JET SKI WONDERLAND WEEKEND ON A HOUSEBOAT A FAMILY BOATING ADVENTURE
BOAT GOLD COAST
Editor’s Note
W
e have passed the one-year mark! For the team of Boat Gold Coast, it has been a journey of heartaches, headaches, and even bellyaches! But it has also been an adventure that is full of discoveries, learning, history, and personal tales. We are grateful to our tireless team of contributors who cruised with us through our birthing journey. Of course, we are equally grateful to the industry on which we have anchored our magazine. And more importantly, we thank you, our readers, who are the reason we embarked on this expedition. We hope that our past four issues have opened new opportunities for you to embrace the boating lifestyle, as we continue to make the next ones better. Our magazine is only as good as the stories people tell us and the limitless possibilities on the Gold Coast captured in our images. And it is through these stories and images that we are able to share everything there is to love about the Gold Coast, its waterways, and the boating life. This magazine is also a medium through which we can communicate ideas and experiences beyond our comfort zones, especially on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. So I take this opportunity to request that you take a moment to look beyond the waterways and coastline of the Gold Coast, where boating is not just a leisure activity, but a means of survival. I am referring to the “boat people” who have risked everything to be in small, crowded and unsafe boats in their desperate attempt to find a new home that will treat them as humans, or at least to give them a chance to survive. While we may not be in a position to provide assistance to the “boat people”, we need to think about them and ensure that our governments (in Australia and in the other countries) make the right decisions to promote human welfare— not only for its citizens, but also for everyone who are in need of their protection. I personally believe that the issue is beyond politics, and is simply about humanity. I will not preach about what the affected governments should do, but I think everyone should be aware of this issue and be informed of the plight of the “boat people”.
Our Crew
PUBLISHER
Competitive Brands Pty. Ltd.
DIRECTOR
Andy Kancachian
EDITOR
Roselle Tenefrancia editor@boatgoldcoast.com.au
Richard Newman
SALES
andy@boatgoldcoast.com.au richard@boatgoldcoast.com.au
Michael Von Backstrom michael@boatgoldcoast.com.au
Boating is not only about fun and frivolity. It is about safety, about journeys and adventures, and about human experiences. The stories we have about our relationship with our boats and boating pale in comparison to the depth of the stories of those who are simply surviving in the boats. Let us be more mindful of the world we live in— environment and people—and not be content inside our paradise.
CONTRIBUTORS Vixter, Ian Anderson, Juliet Cameron, Scott Butler, Captain John Kavanagh, Cheyne Sales, Amber Kinghorn, Alex Roy, Tina Francia, Chris Ruston, Ken Thackeray, Nic Welch, Matt Jackson, Jake Van Zyl, Jordan O’Keeffe, Mandy Brown, R.T. Soler, Patrick Molnar, Juliet Saltmarsh, Sally Jenyns, Chris Morgan, Maggie Muurmans, Carlie Simon, Jessica Watson Oam, Heidi Van Woerden, Nitsa Kerr, Corinne Johnston, Keryn Spriggs.
Rest assured though that with this awareness, the Boat Gold Coast team will continue to weave our way on the waterways of the Gold Coast, meet people who have stories to tell, engage the men and women of the boating industry, and research beyond the Gold Coast to learn something new about the rest of the world.
COVER PHOTO A Brazilian Beauty: The Fibrafort F330 Sports Cruiser (Courtesy of Stefan Boating World)
Roselle
editor@boatgoldcoast.com.au
Connect with us BoatGoldCoast Please address all communication to: Boat Gold Coast P.O. Box 7441, Gold Coast MC 9726 info@boatgoldcoast.com.au (07) 5679 0833
Acknowledgment of Country Boat Gold Coast acknowledge and pay respects to the traditional Aboriginal people of the Gold Coast and their descendants, and also acknowledge the many Aboriginal people from other regions as well as Torres Strait and South Sea Islander people who now live in the local area and have made an important contribution to the community.
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Gold Coast is a free quarterly publication, distributing around the Gold Coast from Jacob’s Well to Tweed River region. We encourage contributions from the Gold Coast community that support the Gold Coast boating industry, and promote the fun, safe and sustainable use of the Gold Coast waterways. We are an independent publication, with no political or social alliances to any office, group or association. Opinions expressed in the articles are of the contributors, and not of the publisher or editor. Boat Gold Coast prints 10,000 copies per issue. We encourage recycling. Please pass this on to others, repurpose, or place in the recycling bin.
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RANGE ROVER SPORT PERFORMANCE ON ANOTHER LEVEL
RANGE ROVER SPORT WAS DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN. The fastest Land Rover ever, its breathtaking performance is matched only by its distinctive design. This vehicle has Land Rover capability at its heart, delivering unrivalled performance on and off-road. Whether you’re manoeuvering around tight corners or negotiating the traffic, the vehicle is surprisingly agile and has all the right credentials to help you manage any situation. Bruce Lynton Land Rover 96-100 Minnie Street, Southport, Qld, 4215 Tel: 07 5571 1011 www.brucelyntonlandrover.com
BOAT GOLD COAST
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
6 Through The Porthole 8 International Boat Shows 14 Collision Legal Advice 15 Lure Of Mangrove Jacks 17 Fishing For Freedom 18 Bass Fish Hinze Dam 22 Wakeboard World Champ 24 Twilight Sailing 25 Sailing School Varsity 26 Shag Islet Cruising Yachts 28 Houseboat Holidays 36 Yachts: Mono Vs. Multi Hulls 39 PWC Fishing 40 Jet Ski Wonderland 44 Women Of GC Boating 47 Frestyle Boating Events 48 Ocean Clean-up 50 Dredging 101 53 SUP Tai Chi 54 Recycling Boatings 57 Mackeral Recipe 58 Champagne Advice 59 Managing Hair On Board 60 Evinrude G2 60 News 61 Narrowneck Reef
INNOVATIVE BOATING GADGETS
p.38 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The article “OVER AND OUT” by Nic Welch (August-October 2015 Issue, p33-34) gives an excellent coverage of marine radio usage for the general mariner. (Though we winced a bit at the heading as those three words should never be used in the same sentence, which they weren’t in the text of the article! lol) Your magazine has been very favourably received among our Active Members. The articles are clear, simple and provide good concise information in uncomplicated language. Diana Gibson, Secretary Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport I have been doing some work on the Gold Coast recently and picked up one of your magazines to check out what was happening on the Gold Coast. I must say, very impressed. The production values, content and breadth of interesting and practical articles sets the benchmark for lifestyle magazines. John K., Brisbane
Thanks for the article, Do You Know Your Waterways Address? (Nov-Jan 2016 issue, p42). It is good that it is a balanced view as my proposal was presented before GPS. However, if GPS negates the need to name canals and put up signage, then there would also be no reason to name streets today! Rod McLaughlin Congratulations on the latest issue of the Boat Gold Coast Magazine. It is a good read. The water skiing article was great! Tony France, Carrara BOATGOLDCOAST.COM. AU
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BOAT PHOTOGRAPHY
BOATS OF BREAM SERIES
PHOTO BY SCOTT BUTLER
A champion angler, Scott Butler has been competing in bream tournaments for over nine years and has won more than 40 tournaments nationally. In 2014, Scott came first in the National Bream Classic Grand Final in Sydney Harbour and was awarded the Australian Angler of the Year and held the number-one ranked angler status nationally for five months. He is the founder and event organiser of the Gold Coast Bream Series.
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Scott took this photo on his iPhone on 29 November at the Spit boat ramp, during the event. Pictured are the 18 registered teams on the day. Throughout the 2015 series, a total of 62 different teams competed in the fishing series. On the day of the photo, the winning team was Sporty’s Fishing Alex Roy and Ben Prednergast. This catch-and-release fishing tournament began in 2013 to provide anglers a fun, friendly and competitive environment. The Gold Coast Bream Series is a lure-fishing tournament. The competitors have varying degrees of experience ranging from professional anglers to first time participants. On average, 75 fish are weighed-in alive at each event with all the fish released to fight another day. Gold Coast Bream Series boats can vary from full professional tournament bass boats right down to small tinnies. The rules stipulate that minimum boat length should be 3.7 metres with at least a 15hp outboard and that the boat must be equipped with at least a 60-litre live-bait holding tank to keep the fish alive. Gold Coast Bream Series pays back over 90 percent of the entry fee to the anglers via cash and prizes with events held at the best breaming location in Northern New South Wales and Southeast Queensland. In 2015, the largest bag of five bream weighedin was 3.85 kilos caught in Round 8 at Tweed Heads by Team JML Anglers Alliance, which is a new Gold Coast Bream Series record. The largest single bream weighed was a 1.17kg bream caught in the Gold Coast Winter Classic by Scott Butler.
From time to time, teams do come back without fish.But it happens regardless of skill level; hence, it is called fishing, not catching.
2016 EVENT SCHEDULE: Round 1: 30-31 January Zipbaits Gold Coast Bream Summer Championships Round 2: 9-10 April Addicted Fishing Co Moreton Bay Bream Championships Bribie Island. Round 3: 28-29 May Northern Rivers Bream Championships Iluka. Round 4: 2-3 July Zipbaits Queensland Bream Championship Gold Coast. Round 5: 24-25 September Tweeds Heads Bream Challenge. www.goldcoastbreamseries.com
2015 Gold Coast Bream Series overall champion Scott Butler
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GOLD COAST
WYLD ABOUT BOATS - ARE YOU READY FOR LARSON’S 190 LXH OB? The new design creates more space and deeper bow storage found under each of the cushions. The bow port and starboard backrests are easily lifted with a gas-assisted hinge to reveal more storage. The hulls added freeboard, which improves safety. With the optional bow 4-step access ladder, water fun is within easy reach—fore or aft. And this is just in the bow. The decision to use the pickle-fork bow design in essence creates a tri-hull-like running surface. This hull design gives the 190 LXH great on-water performance, greater lift and a quicker time to plane, as well as stability. Drivers are able to easily pull a skier, tuber or wake boarder, or even beat some other similar sized boats to the dock.
L
arson introduces the new 190 LXH OB, a sport boat with the space and comforts of a deck boat. The ultra-modern hull design coupled with a powerful outboard creates an inventive boating solution for Gold Coasters and canal living. The versatility of an outboard allows easy beach access in the shallow, and at wet berth, the engine can be fully tilted out of the water reducing ongoing maintenance cost compared with a stern-drive fitted engine. Based on customer research, the design of the new LXH series is focused on space and storage, which were the top two priorities of consumers. The shape of the “pickle fork” bow design creates a wider bow than several of the larger Larson boat series. Furthermore, the floor has been dropped five centimetres, allowed by a state-of-the-art, computercontrolled manufacturing process that guarantees that every part is made to the most exacting standards of fit and finish. The resulting parts are unparalleled in beauty and of unprecedented quality.
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The helm is ergonomically laid out to listen to the captain’s demands. Sitting on a standard, highbacked flip-up bolstered helm seat, with a slider and armrests, the captain is not only comfortable, but can easily set the boat’s course for the day. The helm with a car-like inspired design, includes all of the key accessory and rocker switches in easy line of sight to the right and left of the wheel.
The ignition, driver’s cup holder, optional stereo remote, and 12v adapter are located on a compact console to the right of the driver’s helm seat. Continuing with the space and storage theme, the cockpit is full of both. A lockable glove box is located in the passenger console. In the glove box, the optional stereo unit is housed with the standard USB rechargeable plug that can double as your stereo control. Standard stereo is a Boss Bluetoothenabled head unit. Under the bench seat, more storage is accessed for life jackets, water toys and dock lines. Further storage is found in the transom walk-thru step and on the sun pad, perfect for fenders, lines or just used as a cooler. The all-new LXH 190 OB combines attitude with aptitude. Its wide stance and deep cockpit has edgy styling, maximum storage and responsive performance. Larson’s newest creation is up for anything. Are you ready too? Larson boats are distributed exclusively in QLD by Wyld About Boats, view full range at www.wyldaboutboats.com.au or call (07) 5563 2223.
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BOAT FEATURE
LET THE SHOW BEGIN A LOOK AT INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOWS By Roselle Tenefrancia
“Start the new watersports season with us!”
“Navigator of Asian yachting.”
“Where adventure starts, pioneers meet and innovation shines.”
“Welcome to the number one boat show on the planet…”
“A legendary site. An iconic event. An epic move.” “The rendezvous of the passionate.” rom Dusseldorf to Shanghai, from London F to Fort Lauderdale, from Miami to Paris, these exciting and romantic slogans represent
These organisations and their continuing growth and success in staging boat shows over the decades prove how boat shows are important, not only for consumers, but also for the industry players.
auniversal industry that continues to appeal to a wider and more dynamic clientele worldwide. The industry is called “boat shows”.
In simple terms, let Wikipedia help us define what a boat show is: “A boat show is a public exhibition or trade fair of current boat models, debuts, concept vessels, or out-of-production classics.” A boat show is first and foremost an exhibition of products and services related to boating, yachting and everything nautical— state-of-the art, innovative technology, new and speciality services. Over the decades, the concept of boat shows has evolved into a social event that covers tourism, lifestyle, fashion, dining, and other leisure activities. More than boats, boat shows are now showcasing a broader range of products and services related to water activities—such as watersports, waterfront lifestyle, board sports, diving, waterways safety and environment. Notfor-profit groups also participate at boat shows as an opportunity to inform and educate the public about boating, water safety and new skills.
WHY BOAT SHOWS The boating industry relies on consumer preferences, behaviour and decision-making. Boat shows provide an opportunity for the
Boot Düsseldorf
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“Boat shows exist to sell product and to promote the boating lifestyle,” states Ben Wold, executive vice president of NMMA. “The average boat dealer sells between 30 to 50 percent of their annual volume as a result of boat shows or leads generated at a boat show. People shop an average of four to six dealers or manufacturers while at a boat show, so it is a very efficient use of their time when in the market to buy a boat.” National Marine Manufacturers Association Boat Show
general public to understand the products and the services that the industry offers, as well as to appreciate and adopt the boating lifestyle. “Customers want and need to compare products and there is no other market place where exhibitors can show their full potential and distinguish themselves from others,” explains Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel, director of boot Düsseldorf and president of International Federation of Boat Show Organizers (IFBSO). “For people in general, it is important to feel and experience things in order to come to a clear decision.” Boat shows are an industry in itself, with several international organisations focused on staging and managing boat shows annually. The IFBSO was founded in 1964 to help the development of boat shows and marine trade exhibitions worldwide. In North America, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is currently the “world’s leading producer of consumer boat and sport shows, managing more than twenty shows in the largest cities in the U.S.” The NMMA was formed in 1979, but traces back its roots to 1904 when the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers of New York was founded. In Australia, the various state Boating Industries Associations (BIA) organise boat shows in major cities, such as Sydney International Boat Show (SIBS), owned and operated by BIA NSW & SA Pty. Ltd, and the Melbourne Boat Show, owned and operated by BIA Victoria.
Because of the GFC in 2008, the boating industry had to develop recovery plans and find positive strategies to keep the market interested. Boat shows were used to offer something different to keep the public interest in boating. Wold says, “During the economic downturn, boats, engines and accessories sold at boat shows. Those who attended boat shows during that time were interested in buying a boat and were quality leads for dealers and manufacturers.” A change in the themes and marketing plans of boat shows also manifested after the GFC. “Boat shows that have reinvented themselves over the past six years and have become places of entertainment, fun, experience, and of course, a well-sorted arrangement of new products were strong drivers for the industry,” says Jungmichel. Mayor Tom Tate
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT FEATURE “The boat shows had to become partners with the industry, provide service, create visitor potentials, and prove themselves trustworthy while leading the industry.” The economic benefits for the locality or venue of a boat show cannot be understated. For Jungmichel, the benefits include: boaties seeing and recognising the marina; extra revenue for F&B outlets; more sales for hotels and accommodations in the area; more taxes for the community; and, further reinvestments in the infrastructure. Although boat shows will always have financial significance to the locality, international boat shows provide higher economic benefits. Wold says, “The more international a show is will help determine how many exhibitors and people attend. The more exhibitors and attendees, the larger the economic impact.” On the Gold Coast, boat shows add value to the tourism industry. “The shows add to our leisure tourism offerings,” says Cr Tom Tate, mayor of the City of Gold Coast. “They stimulate interest in this key marine construction and sales market. They drive greater interstate and international reputation for our city, and they are a fantastic day-out for families.”
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF SUCCESS All boat shows advertise to be the “epitome of excellence” in the industry. Some market themselves as one of the oldest, longestrunning, or the biggest in area, or the largest in terms of exhibitors or visitors. Others claim to have the highest sales achieved for the year. The numerous boat shows all over the world, international or otherwise, have to be aggressive in their marketing campaigns as well as be trustworthy in their claims, in order to stay competitive in the boat show industry.
provided; (4) Fair pricing; (5) Living up to the international standards of show management (e.g. IFBSO). He further stands by this statement: “Just because there is a marina somewhere doesn’t mean it is capable of hosting a boat show!” Wold recommends, “Always consider the five E’s: Exhibits, Education, Entertainment, Environment, and Experience. To be successful, a boat show needs a quality venue, exhibitors in a concentrated area, and the potential for sizeable number of quality attendees within 100 miles [160 km].”
IN AUSTRALIA The marine industry in Australia is estimated to be worth $8 billion, with an export portion of around $1 billion. More than 3,500 marine businesses are involved that employ 28,000 people. There are around 13 boat shows held in Australia, with a handful considered to be international. In Queensland, there are several boat shows that also integrate other industries such as fishing, camping, caravans, and other outdoor sports. On the Gold Coast, there are two major international boat shows,one festival of boats, and a few other smaller marina-based boat shows, that not only offer international-standard products and services, but also showcase the city both as a boating destination and as the boat-manufacturing hub of Australia. May has become a season of boat shows in the city recently, ushering in the potential for a month of large-scale city event series—including other tourism and entertainment events that will benefit from these international boat shows. Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
The success of interstate or domestic boat shows can be measured through a review of their impact on the boating industry, from exhibitor and visitor feedback, as well as income generated from sales and leads.
Diversity in offerings at boat shows—products, services and activities—also assist in ensuring their success. “A successful boat show, like our boot Dusseldorf for instance, needs to present all issues around water sports and marine lifestyle,” declares Jungmichel.
So what are the aspects of staging a boat show that will ensure its success? Wold and Jungmichel both give their advice. Jungmichel enumerates five aspects: (1) Perfect market research of the potential buyers; (2) Clear portfolio of exhibits; (3) Easy-to-manage setup of the show with outstanding service being
The Gold Coast International Marine Expo, founded in 2011, is a not-for-profit association that stages an annual boat show within the facilities of Australia’s largest manufacturing
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Staged side-by-side with the Expo, the Riviera Festival of Boating also had its beginnings in 2011. The Festival brings together Riviera and Belize owners and aspiring ones in one event where they can meet each other, enjoy free entertainment, learn new technology and skills, and explore the Expo. “Riviera proudly supports the Gold Coast International Marine Expo–its mission, its support for our industry, and its charter to help raise funds for charity,” says Stephen Milne, brand and communications director at the Riviera Group. “With the Expo now aligning with other major boating events, including the Riviera Festival of Boating, it has ensured manufacturers and importers are able to build and deliver yachts to their new owners in time for the following summer.”
The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) which started in 1989, is staged at the Sanctuary Cove marina. It is the first on-water boat show in Queensland. “For 27 years the boat show has not only showcased the boats and equipment, but has also highlighted this very special place in the world,” says Barry Jenkins, who organised the very first SCIBS in 1989. “The importance of SCIBS is its ability to attract the high end of the international market. It now holds a significant place in marine boat show calendars with the array of marine products on display at the show, demonstrating the unquestionable significance of SCIBS in the marine industry.” “SCIBS is an established event which draws people from around Australia and the world. Its attendance figures and unique village atmosphere cannot be duplicated,” says Greg Haines, sales and marketing manager at Maritimo, a major exhibitor at SCIBS. “SCIBS is an event that combines the marine industry and its latest products with the social side of the marine village, and its restaurants and other attractions. It is known nationally and internationally for its size and the diversity of the boats and marine industry exhibitors, and that provides a positive boost for the local industry.”
The popularity of new water sports-related and lifestyle products add to the diversity in boat shows. “Paddlesports continue to grow rapidly. Electronics and technology are consistently popular. We’ve also seen increased interest and participation in fractional ownership and boat clubs across the U.S,” professes Wold.
plants and shipyards at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct in Coomera. Recently awarded Best Exhibition at the 2015 Australian Event Industry Awards, “the Expo is now recognised nationally and internationally for its innovative approach reinventing the concept of a traditional boat show,” declares Emma Brown, event and marketing manager of Expo.
2015 marked the first year where the city’s major international boat shows were held on the same dates. Both reported success in sales and quality leads. SCIBS exhibitors have commented that SCIBS 2015 was the best one since 2008, while Expo affirms that 2015 was their biggest one in five years. From the published reports of both shows, the 2015 parallel events generated more than $65 million in sales, and a total of more than 56,000 visitors and 500 exhibitors of the shows combined.
International boat shows are further measured in relation to other factors. “For a boat show to be considered successful internationally, [we should] consider the size of the international exhibitor base, the number of country pavilions (if applicable), the quantity of international buyers, and its membership in the IFBSO,” asserts Wold. Jungmichel affirms this with his criteria for a successful international boat show. “There should be a high number of international exhibitors, and a high number of international visitors. There should also be easy accessibility with products/boats. The venue must provide easy access for an international audience, such as nearby airports and hotels. And lastly, there should be perfect service in every dimension for exhibitors and visitors.”
Gold Coast International Marine Expo
Riviera Festival of Boating
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MAY 2016 Boat show season will begin as the Southern Hemisphere winter arrives. It is worth noting that many international boat shows are held in winter time because they offer the right timing when purchasing a new boat. Ordering early allows a buyer to select features, colours and options, and still ensure delivery by spring or summer time. Being able to be close to boats in a usually off-boating-season allows buyers to enjoy “testing the waters” all in one venue before making that final decision. 9
BOAT FEATURE
In May this year, the Gold Coast will be a host to parallel boating events making another full weekend. The excitement among the organisers and the exhibitors is gaining momentum as the event dates draw closer. For most of the public, boat shows can be over whelming. The free samples, contests, learning demonstrations, and play areas for the young ones, are a few of the tempting features that attract families to attend boat shows. More than these, boat shows of fer the visitor the oppor tunity to feel the quality of the seating, check out the height of the console, and assess the colour scheme, and the list goes on. With many boat manufacturers represented and multiple dealers present, there will be more options for better deals. Information about new technology and innovations that improve passenger safety, the latest waterspor ts equipment, and various
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brands on offer help in enhancing the experience and encouraging the boating lifestyle. It is important for buyers to conduct research prior to attending the boat shows. Identifying the needs, wants, preferences of the users (individual, family or group) is a good way to start. With manufacturers and dealers available to answer questions at the boat shows, it will save time to have the basic questions covered (such as type of boat needed or preferred, use of the boat, how much time to be spent using the boat, etc.). Another important aspect to consider is to narrow down the list of specific brands or models that one is interested in. Checking the regular price of boats (pre-boat show price) is also a must, to be able to compare with a “boat show special”. One of the most impor tant things to remember is to bring friends and family, have a day enjoying ever y thing on of fer, and embrace the boating lifestyle.
FACTS: The Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show is the oldest boat show in the US. The first show was held in 1905. The Chicago Boat Show began in 1907. It opened its gates at 3pm on New Year’s Day. Europe’s first boat show is the London Boat Show, which began in 1954. Brisbane Boat Show was first held in 1961. The first show was held at Brisbane’s City Hall. There were 11 exhibitors with product on display totalling in excess of £70,000. Sydney International Boat Show first ran in 1968. It is the largest recreational marine event in the Southern Hemisphere.
FEB - APR 2016
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CHINESE NEW YEAR 2016
EVENTS GUIDE F E B – M AY 20 1 6 BLEACH FESTIVAL
FEB
Sanctuary Cove welcomes visitors to celebrate the Year of the Monkey. Enjoy traditional Chinese crafts, kite making, mask painting and Chinese calligraphy, and also Chinese music and lion dancing, fire crackers and kung fu demonstration. Try a special New Year banquet on offer at Dragon Cove Chinese Restaurant, Sanctuary Cove Marine Village. (sanctuarycove.com)
ITU WORLD TRIATHLON APR 9 GOLD COAST World class triathletes will descend on the Gold Coast to battle it out for the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Triathlon Series. With the 2016 Olympics on the horizon these top triathletes will try to secure their spot on the team. It’s on Sat 9 April and GC Triathlon - Luke Harrop Memorial on Sun 10 April. The line-up includes a packed entertainment schedule for the whole family. (goldcoast.triathlon.org)
MAY
SANCTUARY COVE 19-22 INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW (SCIBS) This year marks the 28th anniversary of this world-famous festival, where fortunes are launched and dreams set sail. Get set to experience Oceans of Awesome celebrating everything marine, showcased against the spectacular backdrop of the Marine Village at Sanctuary Cove. (sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au)
FEB
27-28 5-8
Organised by Boating Industry Association of NSW, the Sydney Trailer Boat Show will display an array of boats, lots of boating gear will also be available. It will be a great day out for boating novices and enthusiasts. Held at Sydney Showgrounds at Sydney Olympic Park, admission is free and the show will operate from 9am to 5pm on both days. (myoutdoorlife.com.au)
MAR
MAR
4-20
QUIKSILVER PRO
The Bleach Festival will drench the Gold Coast with a threeweek, high-energy, action-packed parade of live music, beach concerts, theatre, performing arts, film and fun. Bleach Festival HQ is the Southern Gold Coast but this year satellite events through the Northern Gold Coast will spread the best of Bleach across the length and breadth of the city. Get set to get wet! Get ready to party! (bleachfestival.com.au)
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SYDNEY TRAILER BOAT SHOW
5-8
10-21
The WSL Championship tour kicks off at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast. Join the world’s best male and female surfers as they battle it out in the 2016 Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro. Held in the oasis of the beachside town of Coolangatta, this is a popular event to a number of participants from all parts of Australia. (worldsurfleague.com)
MAY
MAR
AUSTRALIAN STREET 25-28 ENTERTAINMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS This Easter long weekend, Surfers Paradise will once again transform into carnival of laughter and entertainment with four stages, each zone will buzz with colour and activity. See clowns, mimes, magicians, jugglers, dancers and performers take to stages across Surfers Paradise, all vying for the crowd’s attention. (surfersparadise.com)
BLUES ON BROADBEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL
AUSTRALIAN 16-18 SUPERYACHT & MARINE EXPORT CONFERENCE (ASMEX)
MAY
19-22
The 15th annual Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival will headline Ron Burdon and the Animals. It is Australia’s largest free music festival which is held for four days and nights, and features Australian talent as well as providing a stage for international acts. Blues music is food for the soul and this festival combines the best of blues with the cream of the Gold Coast cuisine. (bluesonbroadbeach.com)
An Australian International Marine Export Group and Superyacht Australia Industry conference, the ASMEX, provides an opportunity for the industry to gain up-to-date information and potential opportunities to drive business. Intercontinental Hotel at Sanctuary Cove. (Aimex.asn.au)
GOLD COAST INTERNATIONAL MARINE EXPO
MAY
MAY
19-22
The Expo will feature boats, marine equipment and boat-building and service facilities. Staged within the facilities of Australia’s largest manufacturing plants and shipyards at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct, Coomera, the Expo will include an interactive demonstration and experience arena. (gcmarineexpo.com.au)
RIVIERA FESTIVAL OF BOATING
19-22
An educational and social event where Riviera and Belize owners and boating enthusiasts from around the globe will unite. The festival will cover all aspects of boating and conduct over 70 educational seminars and practical workshops. Gold Coast Marine Precinct, Coomera. (riviera.com.au/events)
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT SERVICE DIRECTORY
EXCELLENT TRAINING BY MASTER CLASS 4 & 5 QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS
BOOK ONLINE AT GOLDCOASTMARINETRAINING.COM.AU OFFICE LEVEL 2, SUITE 15 - UPSTAIRS RUNAWAY BAY MARINA
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BOAT LEGAL
A GUIDE TO BOAT COLLISIONS
By Captain John Kavanagh, AFNI MQLS
T
he weather is perfect. Your boat is smoothly cutting through the glassy water. As you stand at the helm, you can feel the sun on your face, the wind in your hair and without a care in the world.A day of adventure on the water stretches before you. As you start thinking about where you might drop anchor for lunch, you see a flash of movement out of the corner of your eye. Without warning, another boat has come out of your blind spot and, with a loud crumpling sound, it has collided with you. The other boat seems to be sinking, your boat is settling in the water as well. Are you coming off the plane or sinking too? Your passengers are coming up the companion way asking, “What happened?” You have just had a huge shock, your hands are shaking from the adrenaline, and you hear what sounds like a shout coming from the water. One of the best days turned into one of the worst. What do you do? This is a scenario that happens dozens of times a year across Queensland, and Gold Coast boaters are not immune. In fact, the confined nature of Gold Coast waterways and the relatively high level of boat ownership lead to congestion on the waters and regular close encounters with other boats. This makes the risk of collision very real. It is important to understand what you need to do in the event of a collision, both practically, and in accordance with your legal obligations.
RAISE THE ALARM
Depending on your situation, you might raise the alarm by issuing a mayday on the VHF radio, by calling ‘000’ on your mobile phone (if possible), by using your flares, activating your EPIRB, or by simply wavingyour arms up and down to call attention to nearby boaters. You might choose a combination of these methods, as well as other recognised distress signals. It is important to raise the alarm as soon as possible, otherwise you might find yourself on your own in responding to the incident, and this could be a problem if people have been thrown overboard and a search is required.
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MAKE YOUR VESSEL SAFE Your obligation as the skipper is to ensure the safety of your boat and the people you have on board. You are not going to be in any position to rescue anyone else if your own boat is damaged and sinking. Check that your boat is structurally sound, and if it is damaged, do what you can to prevent the ingress of water. Close watertight doors if possible, start your bilge pump and consider getting your life-saving appliances ready.
In most circumstances, you should avoid the risk of propeller strike injury by keeping your engines off, and offer any assistance you can to people in the water without moving your own boat.
“You should not make any statements to any person about responsibilities between vessels or the causes of the collision, as this could have both civil (insurance) and criminal consequences for you.” REPORTING THE INCIDENT
ENSURE PASSENGERS SAFETY Take a head count and check that everyone is still on board. Check for injuries and render first aid if required. Make sure everyone dons a lifejacket if they haven’t already done so. Keep everyone calm and busy by giving them jobs to do.
RENDER ASSISTANCE The skipper of a boat in Queensland is legally obliged under marine safety laws to render assistance to others after a collision, but without endangering your own boat or people. Your legal obligation is to give the help necessary to save others from any danger caused by the collision; stay by the other boat until help is no longer required; and to give the skipper of the other boat your name and contact details.
You are obliged to report a collision as a marine incident to Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) within 48 hours. It is recommended that the fact of an incident (time, date, place, your name and contact details) be reported within the required 48 hours. However, do not complete the marine incident report form without first taking legal advice. Depending upon the seriousness of the incident, you may also be asked questions at the scene by law enforcement officers from the Water Police, the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) or MSQ. You should not make any statements to any person about responsibilities between vessels or the causes of the collision, as this could have both civil (insurance) and criminal consequences for you. It is vitally important not to say anything until you have time to consider what happened and have received legal advice. ASK CAPTAIN JOHN if you have questions that involve any legal matters in boating, please write to Capt. John at info@boatgoldcoast.com.au.
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT ANGLER
THE LURE OF
MANGROVE JACKS By Cheyne Sales
I
t was mid-November and jack season was starting to fire with good numbers of solid fish being landed. With a quick phone call to friend and the words, “The jacks are on,” and a trip was organised. The next day was a very windy day blowing 30 knots from the southeast, but the three days prior saw temperatures up at 33 degrees with a storm on the forecast. Afternoon came and we decided to go despite the strong winds. After collecting some live poddy mullet, we put the boat in the water and headed off to one of our favourite rock walls hoping for a good night. When we arrived, we anchored up and put baits in the water and in less than five minutes, I was fighting my first fish—a solid 52cm jack. That set the pace and for the next three hours we had the pleasure of going toeto-toe with some absolute thumpers. Photos were taken and all were released purely out of passion and respect for a magnificent species. For those who have not yet felt the sheer power and explosive ability of this species, it is a must! Jack fishing has developed a huge—almost cultlike—following in recent years and for good reason. Here on the Gold Coast, we are lucky enough to have a healthy population of jacks that seem to wait longer than their northern brothers before heading offshore to the reefs. This means much larger fish of 60 to 90cm jacks in a river system or lake is almost unbelievable in other places but not here on the Gold Coast. The problem is landing it!
STAYING IN THE STRIKE ZONE The single most important thing when fishing for jacks is keeping your lure or bait in the strike zone. Jacks are structure-bound and whether it is a snag, pontoon or rock wall, you will rarely succeed in catching one in open water. Your lure or bait must be right in the structure you are fishing. Try to fish up-current of your structure as this will naturally help your bait to drift right into and under your target. If your bait drifts
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or swims out of the zone, then cast it straight back in. Even if this means re-casting every 10 minutes.
WHEN TO FISH? First and last light are
key feeding times. But fishing at nights is most productive as jacks have huge eyes and love hunting in the dark. For the best tides, I have found that this differs greatly depending on the amount of rain there has been and what section of the river you are fishing. For example, one night we were fishing up the back of the Coomera River near the
weir just a few days after heavy rain and fishing was very slow with only a few small bream. My mate was adamant that it was dead and we should give up. I was stubborn! My argument was that the water was too cold and too fresh and that we should wait for the tide to come in and that will push in the warm saltier water. Two hours later when the clean and warmer water pushed up with the tide, we had one of the best jack sessions both of us can remember. It is also very important to fish where the bait is. If the water is dead and quiet, then jacks will be the same; but if the water is alive with bait, then they will be there as well. So it always pays to spend the time finding where the bait is prior to fishing.
LURES OR BAIT? Lure fishing is definitely the most exciting form of jack fishing as you are more actively chasing the fish. Every cast or spot is a possible fish. But in my opinion, bait fishing is just as effective, if not more successful. My normal session would be to throw lures at any and all structures until the sun goes down. When it does, I like to cast live poddy mullet and mullet strips at rock walls. At night, jacks come out of their homes and patrol these rock walls looking for food. This is when you will be most likely to catch one. I like to use a 3/0 suicide hook for live bait, and for a strip of mullet, I like to snell two 3/0 hooks about five inches apart with a tiny running pea-sized sinker as this works well in the areas I fish. But be free to adapt and change when you feel you should. Catching one on a lure is the most rewarding. Good lures include the ever faithful Smith Cherry Blood, Gold Bombers, X-raps, Mad Mullet and Lucky Craft Pointers. For plastics, try Z-man swimmerz in 4-inch, McArthy’s paddle tails, and most prawn imitations. There are plenty more to name but the above will catch you jacks and are very reliable. WHERE TO FISH Almost all of the lakes on the Gold Coast that are connected to river systems are loaded with jacks. Most of the rock bars and rock walls are good as are the thousands of pontoons, jetties and boat moorings. Land-based anglers are best off targeting bridges, rock bars and weirs, while boat anglers are best off travelling up the river until they locate the section that is holding all the bait and concentrate their efforts there. It is hard to give exact locations without starting a riot. The key to finding one is to have a look at Google Earth and find the area you think will be good, and put the time in there. Persistence is the key!
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BOAT GOLD COAST
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mooring for picnic BBQ’s on various shores. The USAbuilt pontoon boats are great for fishing, partying, family outings and water sports. Ask for advice from our very own minimal hassle. Established in 1996, TCM have expanded “Pontoon Pete” who lives on the water and is often seen to a huge undercover site servicing Southeast Queensland cruising with a load of up to 16 joyful passengers. and stock a range of boats for immediate delivery. Inflatable SUP Quintrex Dealer of the Year Tweed Coast Marine are the Gold Coast outlet for Aqua In 2015, TCM were awarded Queensland Quintrex Dealer Marine SUP boards, a high quality range of inflatable of the Year for outstanding sales of the renowned local boards at very reasonable prices which are ideal for those boat manufacturer. in high-rise living or for transport in a small car without roof racks. Each inflatable SUP sold is packaged with pump for Mercury factory service instant fun on the water without strapping a heavy board All new boat packages are fitted with Mercury engines and to your roof. In stock is the full range, including the now covered by a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. TCM have famous Aqua Marine yoga board. a fully equipped workshop with factory trained Mercury technicians who offer after-sales service for most brands of outboard engines. Awell-equipped mobile service vehicle Secure storage facility can provide on site service and maintenance at marinas or Having the largest undercover boat centre in the southern your home. end of the Gold Coast, TCM offer indoor secured lockedup storage for boats, caravans, motorhomes and vehicles. Pontoon boats Competitive long-term rates and only a short distance to Coolangatta Airport make it the ideal location to store your Misty Harbor Pontoons have proven very popular on recreational vehicles. the Gold Coast with many enjoying the waterways and
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FEB - APR 2016
BOAT ANGLER
FISHIN’ FOR FREEDOM By Amber Kinghorn
Matt Price and Cynthia Stevens are the Royal Slammers. Their love of fishing is contagious and is what drove them to establish Fishin’ for Freedom, a not-for-profit organisation providing fishing activities for the disadvantaged. MATT’S STORY
Born in New South Wales but raised in Queensland, Matt Price first discovered a fondness for fishing as a youngster visiting friends in Jindalee. He was just six years old when he pulled his first catch, a catfish, from the brackish waters of the Brisbane River. “I had no idea what I’d landed, so I dragged it all the way home to ask my parents.” The excitement of that day sparked his interest and when he moved to the seaside area of Wynnum, his passion for fishing grew. Matt spent his spare time fishing the foreshore, break walls and jetties in the area and when the conditions were not good, he watched his favourite fishing shows on TV. In time, Matt moved on to boat fishing and joined the Moreton Bay Game Fishing Club. He became a very competitive angler earning himself many trophies and championships over the years, with a growing number of billfish catches to his credit. One day, a magazine article on achieving a Royal Slam caught Matt’s attention. He shares, “A Royal Slam involves targeting certain varieties in a particular species group, for example, billfish, bass or trout. The article detailed the fish caught by a woman earning her a Billfish Royal Slam and it was then I realised I was well on my way to completing the list.” He put a plan into action to chase and catch the fish required and became the first Australian to achieve a Royal Slam. He has since gone on to earn four Royal Slams for billfish, bass, salmon and trout, and is the only person in the world to have four of the six Royal Slams.
CYNTHIA’S STORY Cynthia Stevens was born and raised in Brisbane and started fishing at age five when her father bought a small boat. She suffered from a deteriorating eye condition as a child that eventually left her blind. But despite the hardship and discrimination, Cynthia never lost her sense of adventure. “For 18 years, my family spent our Christmas and Easter holidays camping on the river in Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast. Dad always encouraged me to keep doing what I love, regardless
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of my vision loss. I had a little Wilson rod with an Alvey reel and I would stand there at the water’s edge for hours casting and recasting, waiting for a bite.” With the help of her father, Cynthia continued to enjoy a love of fishing. As time passed, her interest in angling was pushed aside when she married into a non-fishing family and became busy with her children. After raising their boys, Cynthia and her husband decided to go their separate ways. She found she had more time to herself once again.
THE LOVE STORY In 2013, Matt and Cynthia met. A shared enthusiasm for fishing gave them an instant rapport. He helped her gain confidence and she soon mastered various new styles including spin, trolling and fly fishing. After many successful trips, Cynthia became aware that a Royal Slam was within reach and they set about making her dream a reality. In 2013, the International Game Fishing Association credited Cynthia with being the first blind person in the world to achieve a Royal Slam. She is also the only female in the world with three freshwater Royal Slams for bass, salmon and trout achieving the last in the world record time of 15 days. FISHIN’ FOR FREEDOM IS BORN
Matt and Cynthia’s passion for fishing has taken them across the world and seen them through some tough times. It helped Matt overcome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and got Cynthia out enjoying life again. Matt wanted to replicate the joy he felt helping Cynthia achieve her goals and also give something back to the sport that had given them such amazing experiences. So, together they created Fishin’ For Freedom. Their aim is to provide low-cost or free fishing activities to people with disabilities. Their focus is to help injured past and present Defence Force and emergency service personnel and their families, often facing hardship, to get out and wet a line. Many of their participants have experienced a physical or psychological injury on the job, but they also support families of ADF members on active duty.
“Trips are designed around the individual or groups ability to fish without endangering themselves or others. Activities can include fishing from banks, jetties, the beach, fish farms and from boats, both inshore and offshore.” With their many years of experience, Matt and Cynthia simply want to share the delights of fishing in a non-judgemental, friendly and relaxing environment. They are currently in contact with government departments, commercial operators and tackle outlets to research modifying equipment to suit varying levels of ability. They are also in the process of forging an alliance with some fishing personalities who have agreed to come along and support whenever possible. Cynthia understands all too well the isolation and loneliness that a disability can bring especially for someone who had an active lifestyle in the past. “Fishin’ for Freedom was established to support people who have stories like mine. To use fishing as an escape or for time out from the daily struggles of life, to overcome thoughts of depression or find a pastime to give them back their purpose.There are a lot of reasons to fish and for every person it is different, but be sure that fishing is not all about catching fish!” Cynthia’s philosophy is simple, “Don’t think too much about it, just go and do it. Chase your dreams.”
Cynthia & friends with a bill fish
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BOAT ANGLER
Tranquil
Hinze Dam
Bass Fishing Dam fishing has its own perks and challenges. ALEX ROY of Sporty’s Fishing in Bundall, a local freshwater fishing expert, shows and tells the Boat Gold Coast team how it is done. The team and Alex set out for bass-fishing at the Hinze Dam as they enjoy the relaxing experience with electricpowered outboard boats.
A
t six o’clock in the morning, the team meets up at the eastern boat ramp at Hinze Dam. Two electric-powered tinnies, one filled with an expert angler alongside an angler who will also steer, and the other boat carrying an eager crew of photographer and journalist to document it all. Using electric outboards made for a quiet and tranquil fishing experience set in the lush valleys of the Hinze Dam area. The tree structures and kilometres of inlets filled with a vast variety of flora and fauna make the experience very memorable. The sky is overcast, the water is calm, and the tranquility is intoxicating. As the boats quietly glide along with singing birds as our background music, the lines are cast and the fisherman singleminded to catch the fish. The morning is all about the dam, the silent boats, and catching the fish.
DAM FISHING “Dams and rivers come with their own challenges,” begins Alex Roy. “Dams are great because they offer a chance to fish for schooled fish resulting in large numbers as they often feed off bait fish. Dam fish are stocked fish, as opposed to wild fish that are found in the rivers. River fishing has its perks as a large part of a river bass’ diet is terrestrial, such as lizards and bugs, which can make for some exciting surface fishing.” Alex points out that dams are open all year round, while rivers have a close season of three months (from 1 June to 31 August), allowing the bass to breed without being disturbed. At the Hinze Dam, an angler can expect to catch bass, saratoga, golden perch, Mary River cod and barred grunter. However, it is the bass that feed well all year round. Usually, in winter, they school up in large numbers in deep water. 18
Credits: Fishing boat courtesy of Nic Welch of Gold Coast Boat Hire (Stessco tinnie running a Minn Kota 36lbs). Boat Gold Coast crew boat courtesy of Stefan Boating World (Seajay Creek Masta tinnie)
And in summer, they move to the edges feeding on surface bait and terrestrial creatures. So you will catch bass all year round. Saratoga, on the other hand, are more of a summer species. When recreational fishing, Alex chooses to catch and release the fish. The excitement of catching a bass overpowers the need to eat it. “Bass are a well sought-after sports fish. They fight hard and can be a challenge to catch. I would rather be rewarded with the excitement and the challenge of catching a bass, as opposed to just catching one for a feed. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a legal size bass—minimum of 30cm fork length with a maximum of two fish.” He humours that there are other fish in the sea.
GEARING UP FOR THE BASS Alex Roy is a very knowledgeable local fisher. “I don’t think you can necessarily describe the level of skill an angler possesses. It’s one of those things that you can never finish learning or mastering,” he explains. As an angler Alex describes himself as well-rounded, having the ability to target a variety of different species. In 2012, Alex alongside team mate Tom Slater were crowned ABT bream classic champions, while in 2014 Alex was outright winner of Jackall Bass Moogerah Dam Challenge and has a multitude of top 10 finishes throughout his tournament career. Fishfinder. Alex recommends using a fishfinder. “Bass will often school, and without a sounder, they are more difficult to find. When the temperature becomes cold they school in large numbers to try and spawn by moving to the brackish water. When it gets too hot, they move to deeper cooler water where the bait is.” His recommendation is to use a sounder such as a Lowrance HDS Gen3 which is user-friendly and offers clarity. “Concentrate the majority of your searching around gradual points from 4cm to 16cm of water. When looking for fish, sound with DownScan sonar. DownScan provides true clarity and can easily distinguish bass from trees and bait.” If a fishfinder is not available, Alex recommends finding fish holding structure that are visible such as trees, weeds or rocks. “To find the fish, first find the bait and structure. Throughout the dam, there is structure in the way of trees. So, find the bank through the trees and fish parallel as every bank has the potential.”
Alex advises that technique and strategy varies depending on the season. “During the warmer months, fish the edges with suspending minnows, surface lures, spinner baits, and lipless crank baits.” He points out that the biggest mistake an angler can make when fishing Hinze Dam is to fish the open water. Bait and Lure. At Hinze Dam, you can use live bait that has been collected from around the dam, for example worms and crickets. However, lure fishing is more convenient and at times more successful. Alex suggests, “Try a 3-in paddle tail soft plastic with a 3/8thoz jig head and ice jigs in winter months, and spinner baits, lipless crank baits, suspending minnows along the surface in summer months.” For anglers experimenting with lures for fresh waterfishing, Alex recommends not to take gear for bait fishing, and try and fish lures. “Lure fishing is all about lightness and sensitivity. A light graphite rod a small reel braided line and a fluorocarbon leader, makes all the difference. People often remark that they’re just fish they won’t know the difference. But trust me, they do. For the angler, a light rod/reel combo allows you to cast light lures accurately and feel timid bites.” And so, after a quiet relaxing wait by the edges of the dam, Alex finally lands a bass. He showed accuracy and confidence in taking the fish. His tips: “When hooking a bass at Hinze Dam, it is good to fight the fish hard as they stay tight to structure. If the fish turns its head, it may take you back to a snag. So as soon as you have a bite, strike hard and manoeuvre your rod to keep the fish out of the snags. Once you’ve got a bass beside the boat, it’s important to net the fish using an eco-friendly net, then remove the hooks with a pair of long nose pliers while still in the net. Use a pair of lip grips and your hand to support the fish for a photo before releasing.” FEB - APR 2016
The shores of Hinze Dam in the early morning light.
Located in the Gold Coast hinterland, 15 kilometres south-west of Nerang, the Hinze Dam is built across the Nerang River. It was originally constructed in 1976, raised in 1989, and significantly upgraded in 2011. Hinze Dam provides the main drinking water supply for the Gold Coast region. The dam has a catchment area of 207km2 and holds 310,730 megalitres of water at full supply. Gates are open daily from 6am to 6pm. A western boat ramp at Advancetown and an eastern boat ramp at Mudgeeraba allow quick access to the sheltered reaches. A fishing permit is required and only electric powered watercraft, sail craft and paddle craft are permitted on the dam. Hinze Dam is not currently part of the Stocked Impoundment Scheme (SIP) administered by Fisheries Queensland.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT RODS:
3-6kg 7 foot spin rod 4-7kg 6’6 bait caster
REELS:
2500 spin reel, 100 bait caster
LINES:
8-16lb braid and 8-16lb leader
“People often remark that they’re just fish they won’t know the difference. But trust me, they do.”
Sea Jay 3.5 Creek Masta- $2675 Dunbier trailer - $1650 (All prices include GST)
stefanboatingworld.com.au
Alex shows off a selection of his favourite fresh water lures ideal for Bass fishing at Hinze Dam. Alex works at Sporty’s Fishing in Bundall alongside Tony and Ben—all locals and highly experienced anglers on the Gold Coast waterways. These guys target a variety of different species and constantly have a finger on the pulse of what is new and exciting.
For the engine, we suggest a Watersnake Venom SXW electric outboard motor with versatile transommount that is loaded with a clever feature, such as a 36” shaft on a fast multi-tilt positioning bracket. The three-blade propeller 44lb motor has a telescopic tiller handle for versatility, comfort and control. The electric motor runs on an external 12V 105 Amp deep cycle AGM marine battery and offers five forward and three reverse speeds.
For Hinze Dam fishing, we recommend: Our crew were on board a Sea Jay 3.5 Creek Mastatinnie. As the name suggests, it is a good little boat for sleeking around the tree structures along the dam edges. The cast platform creates storage space and provides a stable platform for flicking a lure. The model also features a mounting plate for electric outboard on the front deck. The boat was supplied by Stefan Boating World.
Our rangers can’t be everywhere to help you. Play it safe at our dams, lakes and parks. Visit seqwater.com.au/playitsafe
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19
BOAT GOLD COAST
GOLD COAST INTERNATIONAL MARINE EXPO PREPARES FOR THE BOAT SHOW’S BIGGEST YEAR YET IN 2016 “This strong show of support for Expo from our marine industry is a great endorsement for our massive showcase of all things aquatic and sets the foundations for an even bigger Expo in 2016,” said Event & Marketing Manager Emma Brown.
The Expo is staged right in the heart of the Gold Coast Marine Precinct at Coomera—where the marine industry actually does ‘do business’ 365 days a year. In 2015, the Expo directly generated over $50 million in sales activity for exhibitors.
“This news will certainly be welcomed by Expo’s visitors—real boating enthusiasts who enjoy a diverse hands-on marine display, complemented by fun family attractions, and educational and interactive demonstrations every 15 minutes across our giant 3-km display circuit,” she said.
Capping off 2015, Expo continued its heritage of giving back to the community-based charities that have helped cement the event’s credentials as one of the best boat shows in Australia.
“The world’s leading marine brands will once again be represented at Expo 2016—everything from luxury motor and sailing yachts to trailer boats and jet skis, kayaks to fishing equipment, engines to boating accessories … with displays from hundreds of exhibitors.”
A
colossal increase in pre-sold and reserved exhibitor space has Gold Coast International Marine Expo planning to create additional sites and infrastructure ahead of the biggest Expo ever in 2016. The world’s leading marine brands and businesses have been very quick to secure their place at ‘the boat show with so much more’ at Coomera from 19-22 May 2016, with bookings up some 845 percent compared to the same time last year. Over 90 percent of last year’s exhibitor space is now sold or reserved for 2016, and interest from companies who have not previously exhibited at Expo accounts for over 15 percent of the impressive 2015 year-end total of sites already sold or reserved.
Expo chairman Brett Thurley said the not-for-profit Expo would continue to reinvent the concept of a traditional boat show in 2016 as part of its charter to foster jobs, growth and opportunities in the broader Australian marine industry. “Nowhere else in the world is there a boat show held right in the heart of the biggest boat-building facilities and recreational shipyards in the country,” he said. “People love coming here to Coomera and they love being a part of Expo. They love the fact Expo has both big boats and small boats, and a vast array of equipment and accessory displays, as well as a philosophy that brings the entire community together in such a vibrant and fun-filled environment. Amazing things really can be achieved when an entire community works together.”
The Expo has donated a total of $79,000 to charity since it was founded in 2011. Mrs Brown said this year’s beneficiary charities are the Rotary Club of Coomera River, Sailability Gold Coast, Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland, and the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service. “Giving back to these charities is our way of saying ’thank you’ for their tireless efforts in supporting the Expo and the Australian marine industry,” she said. “To stage Expo each year we need over 100 volunteers and we thank these organisations for their continued support. Without them, Expo wouldn’t have grown to be everything it is today.” Expo was recently honoured with the Australian Events Industry’s Best Exhibition award for 2015, and while Mrs Brown said this national recognition is great cause for celebration, it also serves as inspiration to drive Expo 2016 to be the biggest and best yet. Visit www.gcmarineexpo.com.au or telephone Event & Exhibitor Coordinator Shannon Brice on +61 415 758 888 or admin@gcmarineexpo.com.au.
MAY 19 - 22 2016
GOLD COAST MARINE PRECINCT Waterway Drive, Coomera (behind Dreamworld) 200+ Exhibitors on display 500+ Boats on display, on the hardstand and marina Giant 3km display circuit Action packed program of live events
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
www.gcmarineexpo.com.au
The Expo is proudly staged by these marine industry leaders as a not-for-profit marine showcase
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FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GOLD COAST
ONYX FOSTERS A NEW GENERATION OF SAILORS “You can go to the Olympics in the dinghy classes, but there’s a big difference between them and a full-blown race yacht,” says Dave, who also owns Australian Boating Supplies at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard.
(Left to Right) Todd Huggonson, Jackson Huggonson, Danielle Hutcheson, Emma Hutcheson, Amber Piper
D
evout yachtie Dave Hutcheson admits he had never sailed competitively before he purchased the Sydney 32Onyx at the start of this year. In fact, he had never really considered it.
“I heard that [wellknown South Australian philanthropist] Peter Teakle had once bought three Sydney 32’s specifically for yacht clubs for sail training but had to take them back. It was not so much due to a lack of interest, but because keeled boats require a certain amount of upkeep.
“But how do people, particularly the younger ones aged between 15 and 30, move into keeled “I started sailing about 15 years ago and I love it,” says boats and perhaps one day step up to ocean races like those off the coasts of the Gold Dave, the proud owner of a Seawind 38’ catamaran, Coast, Mooloolaba, Hamilton Island, or even the Tropical Sunset. “When it comes to being out on the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race? The sailors who water, it’s just a nice way to go. It’s a very special participate in the keeled racing classes often feeling when you turn the motor off and use the battle to find an experienced crew. So, it is a gap wind to get to places in the middle of nowhere. I love that definitely needs to be filled.” cruising—but racing is entirely another level.” Inspired by Mr Teakle’s original intentions, Dave and Over the past few years watching daughters Danielle Helen purchased Onyx and had her brought from and Emma sail dinghies in the highly acclaimed Port Lincoln back to the Gold Coast where, with the Southport Yacht Club program, Dave and his wife, support of Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, wouldHelen, noted an obvious gap in the size of vessels be sailors now have the chance to learn the ropes of upon which people could develop the confidence and racing in the Category 4 divisions of Southport Yacht skills to step up to the keeled classes. Club’s twilight and offshore series.
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With the support of the Gold Coast City Marina community, the cost of training aboard Onyx has been kept to a bare minimum. “It’s inspiring to see the support Onyx has behind her from everyone in the marina,” says Dave. “A number of companies within our community hear what we are doing and readily offer their support. She’s a real Gold Coast City Marina boat!” Marina lift operator Todd Huggonson and his 15-yearold son Jackson were among the first to jump aboard Onyx as crew.“I saw her come out of the water for annual maintenance and thought having her as a training boat was a fantastic idea,” says Todd. “I’ve been sailing mainly dinghies for about seven years now—sometimes with Jackson aboard—and I was stoked at the opportunity to work as a team with my son aboard a keeled boat. “After our first offshore race, Jackson turned around to me and said: ‘Dad, I think I just want to sail on the big boats now!’ I was really proud to hear him say it!” Now the two younger sons Todd has with his wife, Bec—Brodie,12, and Tanner,7—are looking forward to the Southport Yacht Club fun days so they too can experience the exhilaration of Onyx. “It’s a great experience,” says Todd. “Not just for the young, but also the young at heart!” Dave extends his invitation to everyone. “We are now searching for crew—a mix of experienced people and novices. You can be older or younger. The only requirement is that you love sailing and are prepared to be involved!” CALL FOR CREW Keen to try racing in the keeled classes? Onyx sails every Thursday from 3pm and every second Sunday from Southport Yacht Club. Participants must be a member of a yacht club for insurance purposes and be prepared to take part in 1-2 hours each month in maintenance activities. Cost per race is just $10. To find out more: onyx@austboating.com.au or call 0407 570 468.
AUSTRALIA’S
MOST AWARDED MARINA & BOATYARD ... working in partnership from within Australia’s ultimate award winning marina and boatyard.
+61 7 5502 5888 | INFO@GCCM.COM.AU WWW.GCCM.COM.AU 76-84 WATERWAY DRIVE, COOMERA QLD, 4209 AUSTRALIA
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BOAT FEATURE
QUEEN OF WAKEBOARDING BENOWA BEAUTY HAS THE WORLD AT HER FEET Interview By Andrew Kancachian
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eneration Y’s Courtney Angus was born and raised on the Gold Coast. She has proven herself to be world’s undisputed ‘Queen of Wakeboarding’ having won the World Wakeboard Association (WWA) Wake Park World Championships in 2013 and victories at WWA Triple Crown Series in 2014 and 2015 as well as many other major competitions here and abroad. Confessing that she is all hard work and no talent, Courtney shares her fascinating journey of personal realization that has made her one of the world’s best wakeboard riders. An instinctive athlete, Courtney grew up training on sacred waters at the exact stretch of river where the legendary Gold Coast water ski icon Keith Williams established the Surfers Paradise Ski Gardens in the 1950’s. “I grew up in Benowa Waters and skied on the Nerang River. My earliest recollections were of my Dad setting me up in the pool with a wakeboard strapped on while he ran along pulling my tow rope.” So great was her father Chris’s commitment that he took the kids skiing on the Nerang River at Carrara before and after school during summer months and every weekend all year round. “I learned to waterski and wakeboard from a very young age. I competed in my first ever Australian Wakeboard Nationals when I was seven and remember winning the U9s division when I was eight. Dad always gave me the best opportunity to get out on the water and progress my riding. We travelled all over Australia competing and even took a trip to America to visit one of the best wake camps.” Confirming her world title pedigree, she won her first international crown in 2005 in the Under-14’s age group. So good was her junior success that Courtney decided to turn professional as a career path. “Throughout high school I said I would be a pro wakeboarder, and when it came time to find a job or go to university, it was very obvious to me that I had to follow my passion to wakeboard as a professional rider.” She went on to become the youngest ever WWA Pro Women’s Features World champion. Courtney confirms the importance of cross training for extreme sports athletes which helps to condition the body for grueling training sessions and high impact crashes. “I go rock climbing, do lots of yoga, bike rides and snowboarding.” Living and working as an instructor at Cables Wake Park in Penrith NSW gives her unlimited access to on water training. “My training schedule changes depending on events. I never have an off-season because I am always following the summer across the globe—in the US, Europe and Australia. During the Australian summers, I am focused getting my body in the best physical condition and learning new tricks. I give myself a break from contests and train at the gym four to six times per week and only wakeboard once a day achieving set goals.
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FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GOLD COAST During the northern hemisphere’s summer and coming up to a contest, I ride two to three times per day, every day in order to become consistent.” Sponsored by Rockstar Energy, Hyperlite and Fox, Courtney has competed internationally in China, Thailand, Philippines, UK, US and France over the last three years. “Chasing the endless summers is awesome and rather hot. I get to experience living in different cultures and have friends in every country.” She has her sights set on the 2016 Plastic Playgrounds Wake Park Championships in London which has recently added a women’s division. “Last year was the second year of the event and it is taking wakeboarding events to another level. The format is really entertaining for spectators and challenging for the riders.” Last year the Ministry of Sound, an internationally recognised dance party music promotions company sponsored the event. Back in Australia, Courtney won the Wakeboard Australian Open, a professional boat-powered event that makes her one of the six pro women’s spots at this year’s Moomba Masters, an international water ski and wakeboard event held in Melbourne. “I grew up riding behind the boat. Now that I have had so much time on the water at cable parks, when I come back to riding behind the boat, my board control is great and I can progress very quickly with the competition leaders.” Courtney has a fully stacked trick list and manages to find unique riding lines that always impress the judges. Competing in elite competitions on Australian waters against the country’s best is an adrenalin rush for this 22-year old. “Over the last three years it has definitely been the girls from down under who have pushed me the most. A few times, while competing in the US, there has been an all Aussie podium! Australian female wakeboarders, such as Sophie Hogben and Ange Schribber, are very competitive riders.”
“Approach each new trick with the expectation of being successful rather than dreading failure, and do not procrastinate.”
This extreme sport is not without its serious dangers. Courtney has had many knockouts and concussions behind the boat. “At the moment, I am nursing two ruptured discs in my back. I still ride everyday. However, a full recovery is taking a very long time. Disciplining myself to daily yoga and regular massaging ensures I can continue to train reasonably pain-free while I work towards a return to peak fitness.” To ensure she does not scare anyone from trying to
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wakeboard, Courtney confides, “If you engage an experienced coach in a cable park, you will have a very safe and pleasant experience. Request your first lessons to be on the 2.0 linear cable systems which are the easiest to start out on. Everyone can try it from four years old just as long as they can swim.” Courtney grew up riding behind the boat, but now she is definitely more passionate about wakeboarding at cable parks. “Generally the park’s higher pulling cables mean I can improve my tricks easier in a park than behind a boat. And if I do crash, the slower speeds mean less chance of serious injury. Parks also allow trick progress because there are so many options such as kickers, rails and flat water tricks. Behind the boat you are limited because you only have the boat wake to work with.” The absence of a cable park on the Gold Coast means Courtney must be separated from her family for most of the year. “If there was a cable park here I will be back in a heartbeat and it will be a dream come true. A high quality cable park in this city would be an excellent tourism offering and would attract wakeboarders worldwide.” As an internationally recognised advocate for wakeboarding, Courtney spends a lot of time coaching up-and-coming riders and is a role model to the many hundreds of young wakeboarders who take her classes each year. “I advise my students about the importance of goal-setting and the dedication to practice that leads to the consistency required to be good, not only at wakeboarding but everything they hope to achieve in life.” About her own success, Courtney admits that it is her tomboy competitive nature of not wanting to lose that makes her so good. Cable wakeboarding is one of the fastest growing extreme sports and will be a feature sport for the 2020 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Courtney continues to tweak her style while integrating new high-flying aerials to her repertoire. She waits patiently for a cable park to finally open in her hometown, so that one day the first international wakeboarding event will be held on the Gold Coast. Only then can the ‘Queen of Wakeboarding’ show the city all the tricks of her trade.
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BOAT SAILING
Social Sailing Race At Twilight By Tina Francia
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wilight Sailing is a popular activity among the members of the Southport Yacht Club (SYC)—both for active sailors and non-sailing members. Every Thursday, at twilight, the SYC holds the race inshore, starting from the SYC Main Beach Clubhouse. Simon Turpin, Sailing Operations Manager of SYC, explains, “Twilight Sailing is part of the SYC Club Racing calendar. The racing is performed on the inshore waters of the Gold Coast Broadwater with an annual presentation held each year to present a trophy to the overall winner.” The active sailing members of the Club volunteer their vessels for the twilight race. Simon says, “The owners of the vessels are active Sailing Members of Southport Yacht Club. They offer their vessels for other sailors to increase the activity of the sport, and encourage non-sailors to actively learn the sport.” Participants can sign up as hands-on crew. As crew members, they can be assigned to any position from the bow to the stern. For those wanting to be a permanent crew member in one of the boats, it is required for them to upgrade to a sailing membership to ensure they have the appropriate insurances. Simon states that Twilight Sailing is an activity for everyone. “It is a great sport that everybody can join in. people of all ages and fitness levels can learn the ropes of how to sail and join in with the great camaraderie that SYC has to
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offer.” According to him, participants can also sign up for a “more champagne-style cruising,” as a relaxing experience. On average, there are 20 boats that join the twilight races every week. The vessels that race on a regular basis are predominantly monohulls. “Multihulls are more than welcome to participate, and they will race against each other on a handicap system,” explains Simon. The race courses change depending on the weather conditions. Ray McMahon, a member of the SYC, has participated in a few hundred twilight races. “Over the past eight years, I have made a point of sailing on the entire fleet. Doing this has given me a good understanding of their skills and abilities, and has helped me to improve on where we need to improve their fleet skills.” Twilight Sailing is a race as well as a social event. As a race, speed is an important aspect of the sailing experience. Ray admits that he is most comfortable driving the boat, and enjoys the pressures of making the boat go fast. He shares, “The most challenging thing is getting the boat to perform the way that is should. There is nothing worse than being on a boat knowing that is it just not going as fast as it should. Optimum speed means we should have a good chance at winning the race.” Although speed is a big factor at the races, Ray emphasises that safety on board is the most important aspect. “So many times I see boats on
the water and seeing things that are not safe and potentially not realizing the danger that they are putting their crew in. Any boat that I am sailing on, I pay particular attention to the level of safety that they have on that boat to ensure all twilight boats have a fun and safe afternoon.” Some participants have bought boats of their own after their twilight race experiences. But even then, they would still join the race on someone else’s boat. Ray shares, “I did buy my own boat, but still very much enjoy the experience of sailing on different vessels each week.” Twilight sailing is an extremely important offering for Southport Yacht Club as it encourages nonsailing members to participate in the great sport, and to give them the opportunity to learn more about sailing. Ray describes Twilight Sailing best: “A great way to socialise, keep fit and enjoy being on the water in a fun and safe environment, with that little bit of competition just to spice it up!” Southport Yacht Club holds racing on Thursday evenings from the Main Beach Clubhouse. It is as simple as coming down to the Club at 2.30pm on Thursday and a Twilight Representative will allocate you to a vessel. For more information contact the Sailing Office: sailing.admin@southportyachtclub.com.au.
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT SAILING
GOLD COAST SAILING CLUB VARSITY LAKES By Chris Ruston, Club Coach and Commodore
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he Gold Coast Sailing Club has been operating at Varsity Lakes for almost 10 years. The gold medal winning venue that houses the Club is centrally located on the Gold Coast (near Robina) at the Community Sports House along Christine Avenue in Varsity Lakes. Our Club’s venue is the only protected location on the Gold Coast that can host an “Olympic Triangle” racing for off-the-beach (OTB) dinghy and multihull boats. We rarely see a power boat, jelly fish, sandbank or tide. This is an exciting “Short Course” venue with viewing all around the lake for great media coverage. One can enjoy a large rigging lawn, gazebo, boat ramp, sandy beach, pontoon, sheltered sail training area in front of the Clubhouse adjoining the expansive Lake Orr International Olympic and Bermuda Triangle cloverleaf “Marathon” five-kilometre race course. The average water depth is from three to five metres.
We have local families sailing on Saturday mornings, and general racing in the afternoon around our fabulous five-kilometre Bermuda Triangle competition course. We commence with a briefing at one o’clock in the afternoon. Racing is highly competitive with teams visiting the Clocktower, Bond University, Bermuda Street, and Christine Avenue before finishing back where they started. During the week, we specialise in sailing for the disabled with a number of local schools, private individuals, and organizations taking part. Our talented volunteers assist and accompany the disabled with the aim of teaching them to sail for recreation, or to become independent solo sailors in their own right. Pathways exist for both sailors with a disability and volunteers to attend competitions at regional, state, national and world events. We also host afterschool sail training, holiday camps, and corporate events depending on group sizes. Club members’ ages range from four to 74. Young people find that sailing gives them a low impact outdoor sport that is very challenging and competitive. They get to be captain of their own boat. There are pathways for sailing worldwide on a wide range of boats. The whole sailing experience provides group interaction, team work, sail training, safety training, and social skills that will last a lifetime. My role as Club coach, commodore, and charity director is varied and very rewarding. I sailed with my children as they grew up, then found that I enjoyed being a sailing instructor, and later a coach for sailors with disability. I compete in open events for dinghies, catamarans, small yachts, and for Sailors with a Disability. I was selected as head coach for the Special Olympics Australian Sailing
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Team at LA2015, but also sailed as on-board coach with two young ladies with disabilities where we won Gold! What a Thrill! My greatest achievement has been to set up this sailing charity group run solely by volunteers and to see the look on the faces of our sailors when they discover the joy of sailing. Sailing should be part of a Gold Coaster’s life because we live near the water and need water safety skills. We can visit so many adventure playgrounds (competition and recreational pursuits), and sailboats have minimal environmental impact on our waterways and foreshores. There are no permanently funded staff positions in our Club, so donations, sponsorships, or grants are greatly appreciated. The community has already recognised a number of our volunteers for their service to our disability programs. Come and meet the team, contact Sue 0488644757, or visit www.goldcoastsailingclub.com.
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BOAT DESTINATION
YOU’RE INVITED SHAG ISLET 200 BOATS TO PARTY By Ken Thackeray
Photo courtesy of Trippin Turpins
hag Islet Cruising Yacht Club (SICYC) Inc. is the S fastest growing cruising yacht club in Australia with over 4,380 “Vice Commodores” (members)
A feature of the SICYC Rendezvous 2016 will be the donation sponsored by Llewelyn Motors of an iconic Holden vehicle, which will be wrapped in a skin depicting the “Parrot Head” theme of the Rendezvous. The vehicle will be the first prize in the Rendezvous raffle.
originating from 14 countries.
The strength of SICYC is in its charter, which is to create and maintain a network for cruising yachties while being a not-for-profit organisation raising money for prostate cancer. Over $228,000 has been raised for prostate cancer awareness and research over the past six years. As SICYC has grown in numbers, so have the benefits of being a member, with an ever-growing number of organisations sponsoring the charity and providing specific discounts to the membership. SICYC holds a “Vice Commodore” Rendezvous in the Gloucester Passage in the Whitsundays each year on the last weekend in August. The annual Rendezvous attracts in the order of 200 yachts and also attracts a significant number of fly/drive tourists to the greater Whitsundays Region. The major sponsor of the SICYC is Abell Point Marina (APM). For three years, APM have stood firm in very strong support to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), the logistic support of the Rendezvous, and the provision of discounted products and services specifically to SICYC members.
NEW ADDITIONS TO SHAGGERS CLUB SICYC boasts its own pleasure craft insurance policy, providing its members with a solid insurance option at a very competitive price with five percent of annual premiums going to the PCFA. The insurance package has been developed and is managed by Oceanic Marine Risks, another major sponsor of SICYC and the PCFA. More recently, SICYC has released its own wine, the Shag Islet Wine, which is distributed under the Shag Islet Wine label by “Excelsior Peak Wine” with 10 percent of sales going to the PCFA.
MARI
There will be 20 other fantastic prizes in the annual Rendezvous raffle including a $5,000 yacht charter in the Whitsundays, sponsored by Cumberland. In 2016, SICYC welcomes the active participation of Boat Works in Coomera, not only by way of provision of discounts to SICYC members, but actively supporting the Rendezvous and preparing the “Parrot Head” vehicle. To join SICYC or get more information about SICYC go to www.sicyc.com.au.
RAFFLE TICKETS
Raffle tickets are available through Ken Thackeray. Contact Ph: 0428-716-243 or info@sicyc.com.au. Tickets will also be available at various SICYC activities and functions throughout the year, and of course you can buy tickets at the Rendezvous.
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SCHEDULE: The 2016 Rendezvous will be held 25 to 28 August with the major theme being the Jimmy Buffet “Parrot Head” theme. Activities during the Rendezvous include: 1. “Meet and Greet’ on Thursday 25 August. 2. An Islet Party (on Shag Islet) Friday 26 August. 3. Saturday, 27 August - Participants will link hands in their tenders, “Holding Hands Across The Blue,” for prostate cancer awareness and research sponsored by Abell Point Marina. It culminates with a huge “Parrot Head’ beach party at Montes Reef Resort, with prizes for the best-dressed “Parrot Heads”, best-dressed boat awards, along with a fireworks and raffle draws. 4. Sunday, 28 August - Rendezvous farewell luncheon hosted by Cape Gloucester Resort, the theme “A Pirate’s Parley,” along with prizes for the best dressed Pirate and Pirate Queen, walk the plank for prostate cancer and finishing in the draw of the “Parrot Head” vehicle. Other activities during the rendezvous are: 1. The operation of SICYC “Parrott Head Radio FM” each day of the Rendezvous 2. The operation of courtesy boats in the anchorage/ mooring areas 3. Helicopter scenic flights 4. Jet Ski Tours 5. Fishing excursions 6. Montes Reef Resort and Cape Gloucester provide meals and entertainment over the period of the Rendezvous. 7. A bus service operates from Airlie Beach each day. If you are planning to cruise the Queensland coast this winter, make sure that you include the SICYC “Vice Commodore” Rendezvous in your itinerary.
Y NIENTL CONVE D AT LOCATE
ROB BAMPTON: from
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$995
0419 944 660
J7, 1 Boatworks Drive, Coomera
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BOAT GOLD COAST
THE BOAT WORKS: FOR ‘GOOD OL’ FASHION SERVICE’ he Boat Works is located within the heart of the Gold Coast Marine precinct along the Coomera River. This newly evolved and enhanced boatyard is ‘Australia’s Greatest Boatyard’.
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Sealift and the 100-tonne and 70-tonne Marine Travelift. General Manager, Shane Subichin leads the crew and states, “On average, there are 40 to 50 boat haul-outs carried out each week.”
The Boat Works is a huge boat maintenance and re-fit facility spread across a 22.7 acre waterfront site. Conceived as a one-stop shop for boat servicing, The Boat Works is indeed a comprehensive complex which offers everything from the small stainless steel bolt all the way through to a major re-fit, and everything in between.
Boats up to 110’ in length and up to 100 tonnes can be lifted from the Coomera River at The Boat Works. Once on the hardstand, the lifted vessel can be transported to the appropriate marine professional workshop for all types of maintenance or servicing.
At the helm is two-time Bathurst champion Tony Longhurst. “As a true boatie, I was very aware that there are already plenty of marinas, heaps of mobile mechanics, and lots of good marine trades spread around waterfront areas. The opportunity was to bring all the best trades and support services together onto the one, expansive site. We wanted to streamline the boat maintenance process and take the hassle out for our customers,” says Tony Longhurst. The telling barometer of success at The Boat Works is the number of lifts performed by the unique hydraulic
The 100 tonne Marine Travelift is a superior performance boat hoist
Alternatively, boats of all sizes can be parked on the open or covered hardstand, or in refit sheds up to 15-metre height for owners to do their own work. If a quick turnaround is required on a simple hull clean and antifoul, the partner of The Boat Works does it quickly. In addition to the services offered, the centre has recently completed the extension of their working marina berths, accommodating up to 120’ vessels that are in need of internal works. The Stage 2 development is nearing completion in this fast-paced centre and will feature an attractive showroom headed at the front of the precinct for the marine industry, ensuring prime street frontage for a stylish showroom offering.
The Boat Works professional operations team
A 5000m2 storage area is now ready and is a safe haven out of water for vessels of any size while in the off season. A great location for those looking to place their boat for sale with one of the many onsite brokerages making this facility a unique attraction for out-of-water brokerage displays. DIY and transient boaters make excellent use of the free ensuite and laundry facilities. There are even courtesy cars available if required and all within a petfriendly environment. A worthwhile visit to the appropriately themed The Galley Restaurant and Café up the river should be on all local boaties’ and jet skiers’ radar. Sundowners over the waterfront are a must-try on a Thursday or Friday evening. These are just a few of the many unbelievable changes that have occurred within the last two years. A true resort-style boatyard has been established—clean and efficient, and offers customers a choice and just knowledgeable service. You truly will be impressed!
Refit sheds catering up to a 110ft & 15m high, screening available
Give your Boat The Works, not your wallet
Australia’s Greatest Boatyard (07) 5500 0000 • www.theboatworks.com.au BOATGOLDCOAST.COM. AU
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BOAT JOURNEY
HOUSEBOAT HOLIDAYS DISCOVERING TWEED RIVER By Amber Kinghorn
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s the saying goes ‘It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey’, and that could not be truer when it comes to a houseboat holiday. One of the greatest feelings is packing a bag and heading off for a relaxing break, and when that vacation is on a houseboat, getting about is half the fun.
On arrival at Tweed Marina, owners and operators of Boyd’s Bay Houseboats, Peter and Michelle Day were there to greet us and show us our boat. “We provide all the essentials such as linen, towels and kitchen equipment as well as safety items such as a first aid kit, fire extinguishers and life jackets. You also have the option to hire kayaks and paddleboards and buy last minute supplies like ice and bait from our office before boarding.” A fishing licence is included as part of the letting.
made the hour-and-a-half journey to Chinderah, and then on to Dodd’s Island. There are plenty of protected spots to anchor regardless of which way the wind is coming from, so we tucked into a little sheltered nookoff Dodd’s Island to try our hand at catching dinner. With a couple of decent flathead landed, we prepped them atthe fish-cleaning sink and had a delicious fresh seafood dinner on the top deck while watching the sunset. It does not get much better than that.
Michelle gave me a thorough run-through of the features and navigation tools including detailed maps to guide our journey. Once we had our belongings on board, we bid her farewell as Peter guided the Marie Claire away from the dock. Surprisingly for its size, a houseboat does not require a licenced captain. However, the skipper must be at least 18 years of age for Queensland waters, and 21 for New South Wales.
Sunday morning we headed for Stott’s Island. This nature reserve of lowland subtropical rainforest covers an area of approximately 160 hectares. The rainforest is home to the endangered Mitchell’s rainforest snail, as well as over 47 bird species including the whistling kite and the white-breasted sea-eagle. Access on the island is prohibited. However, you can venture around the island in your dinghy, kayak or stand-up paddle board. Stott’s Island is another great place to wet a line or try a spot of mud crabbing. We enjoyed our lunch on the upper deck of the houseboat while listening to the birds of the rainforest.
I was a little intimidated by her size at first, but with the hands-on instructions from Peter as we were escorted from the marina to the drop point, I was soon confident to be left in charge. I have always daydreamed of living on the water. Recently, I was lucky enough to experience just what that would be like. My family and I spent a fabulous long weekend aboard the Marie Claire, one of Boyd’s Bay’s Houseboats. Our backyard was the tranquil Tweed River. The Gold Coast offers some of the largest, safest and calmest cruising waters in the world and exploring them from the comfort of a houseboat can make for an unforgettable adventure. Our home away from home was a comfortable eight-berth vessel complete with a fully equipped kitchen, full-size fridge/freezer, gas oven and cooker, large bathroom with separate toilet, and three bedrooms all occupying the main deck. On the top deck, we enjoyed relaxing on the sun lounges, cooking on the BBQ, and dining with 360-degree views. With flybridge controls, driving the boat from the top deck makes it a great sightseeing experience. There is also a stereo for tunes with speakers to the top deck, and a TV and a DVD player should the weather turn bad. 28
As a family-owned and operated business, Michelle and Peter offer personal, friendly service with help a phone call away at anytime. Peter showed us the anchoring technique that was simple to follow, and then left us to explore the scenic Tweed River. First on our agenda was a swim in the beautiful water we were anchored in off Greenbank Island. The kids had fun jumping off the front of the boat, floating to the back and using the ladder to climb back on. After lunch we took the tender to nearby Ukerebagh Island. This nature reserve boasts crystal clear water and white sandy beaches, a great place for swimming and snorkelling. We tried our luck pumping yabbies and discovered giant hermit crabs and some strange sea worms. With such distractions we did not notice how late it was and returned to our launch just in time for dinner. Day two had us off to discover more of the Tweed. As a regular boater on the popular and busy Broadwater, I was impressed with the peacefulness this part of the coast offers. With clear maps, wellmarked buoys and almost no traffic, manoeuvring and navigating down the river was a breeze. We
The afternoon saw us heading back to Chinderah to anchor up and head by dinghy to the Chinderah Tavern. We were just in time for the ‘crab races’, a weekly event where patrons bid for a local-caught muddie,and then hope to watch him race across the line. A win scores them a pub voucher and the FEB - APR 2016
tasty specimen for dinner, or alternatively, they can choose to let their victor live another day. After watching the fun and enjoying a cold drink, we motored back to the boat. One last shot at fishing had us pull in a few more flathead before we had an early dinner and settled in for the night. Monday morning was a leisurely putt back to Terranora Inlet, our meeting point. The serenity of the river was even more evident on our early morning journey and we were rewarded with a pod of dolphins for company along the way. We reached our pick-up point in time for one last swim before Peter arrived to pilot us back to the marina. I would highly recommend a holiday afloat even if you do not have boating experience. Houseboats are fun, easy to manoeuvre and can allow you to access hard to reach places. A noisy hotel room is no match for the peace and quiet on the water. It sure makes a pleasant change waking up to a different view every morning. Michelle’s tips for a stress free experience are simple: “Just be mindful of the variation in boating laws if coming from interstate and observe the rules in relation to operating the houseboat. For example, they are not to be docked at marinas, public jetties or wharves (use the dinghy for transfers) and they are not permitted to travel between sunset and sunrise.” With a range of vessel sizes available from Boyd’s Bay Houseboats, there is something to suit everyone— whether it is with the whole extended family, a group of friends, or just a romantic getaway for two. With luxury 12-berth cruisers, sharing the cost among a group makes a vacation even more affordable. Peter also points out, “Houseboat holiday bookings are always at their highest in summer. But do not discount winter. Winter on the Gold Coast is packed with 21-degree days, less wind, fewer storms, and a significantly less number of boats on the water. Being the off-peak season, it is also often cheaper.” So why not take a holiday with a difference and consider a houseboat for your next adventure.
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BOAT GOLD COAST
EXPERTISE FOR OWNERS DEMANDING PERFORMANCE S Marine Diesel are a remanufacturer U of diesel and petrol power heads, gearcases and sterndrive units for the marine industr y. Their exper tise also includes the supply and ser vice of militar y specification (Mil-Spec) wiring for engines and control systems. Having recently expanded to the Gold Coast af ter 25 years experience in NSW, they saw an oppor tunit y to of fer highly specialised ser vice to the local marine industr y.
with the same experience as the company’s race-winning competition engines. This experience ensures they deliver a highly reliable product and maintain a low failure rate. The strict service centre guidelines guarantee the original manufacture specifications are met or exceeded.
The company’s efforts have remained focused on Cummins, Caterpillar and MTU Detroit engines addressing a void in the marine power arena. The team deliver high-calibre remanufactured power products, together with a customer service program. US Marine Diesel are experienced Caterpillar and Cummins service centres, and stock Cummins, Caterpillar and Detroit parts as well as a large range of Dayco belts, hoses and clamps at competitive prices. The employees are highly trained and certified mechanics in all phases of the remanufacturing process. Not just marine engine mechanics, all workshop staff have competition-engine building experience. With over 30 years experience building engines for transport, racing and marine, US Marine Diesel engine builders have a wealth of experience which includes top-level V8 supercar engines, targa-spec engines and road transport engines. Both leisure and commercial marine engines are treated
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A dynamometer measuring unit (dyno) coupled with specialized software enables US Marine Diesel to perform full-custom mapping of your Engine Control Unit (ECU) for maximum performance and economy. The elaborate workshops house a chassis dyno and engine dyno capable of tuning engines under actual working load conditions, and also testing for rated power. US Marine Diesel highly recommend that every engine should be dyno-tested before being fitted to the hull to ensure any reliability issues, such as oil leaks, are taken care of before fitting. If remanufacturing of engines is not possible and the engines are deemed unrepairable, US Marine Diesel can supply and install brand-new Cummins, Cat or Detroit engines.
All engines are assembled in a purposebuilt dust-free engine room with surgical cleanliness. The team utilises extensive software for diagnosis and tuning while operating the latest engine assembly and measuring equipment. Special diagnostic computers allow qualified technicians to plug-in to your engine for a detailed history and specs, and for a diagnosis of any Engine Control Module (ECM) problems you may be experiencing.
With a mobile service response vehicle, maintenance can be performed onsite and on water. By engaging US Marine Diesel during your pre-purchase inspections, a marine expert will perform boat and engine inspections, including full-data logged sea trials. US Marine Diesel are for boat owners demanding performance. The highly trained team are committed to maintaining a strong reputation for excellence in the quality of workmanship and deliver the best customer service program in the industry.
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GOLD COAST
FIBRAFORT F330 BRAZILIAN BEAUTY CHALLENGING THE GOLD COAST SPORTS CRUISERS
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he post-GFC demise of several Gold Coast companies that manufactured sport cruisers have made way for an influx of imports traditionally from the USA. Borne out of Brazil, the Fibrafort boats are challenging the worlds sports cruiser market with a range of high-specification quality built boats. Fibrafort currently has the largest dealer network of the segment in Brazil with 49 domestic dealers and a further presence in 43 countries including Australia. It boasts two busy production-line produce models from 16 to 32 feet, and motor yachts measuring from 35 to 44 feet. With an organic growth of over 20 years, the company offers the highest design and technical quality which requires careful work from a dedicated production team. Local Fibrafort distributor Stefan boating World are making big inroads into the Australian market with well appointed models at aggressive pricing, to fill the gap in the sports cruiser segment of the Gold Coast market. “The sports cruiser market has always been a fast growing form of recreational boating and with an increasing demand for new models to replace the Gold Coast built boats of the 1990’s and 2000’s,“ says Tim Atkins, operations manager at Stefan Boating World. “The Fibrafort F330 ticks all the boxes with unmatched features for the price point.” Fibrafort proves to be an affordable family boat for weekends away on the Broadwater with enough power and agility to take the kids skiing and tubing, without ever spilling mum’s chardonnay. The hull has a unique designed that reduces noise and improve handling. Manufactured with a composite of polyurethane and fiberglass that is core filled with closed cell foam which creates a hard wearing finish.
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“Step onto the F330 and you instantly get the impression the boat is user-friendly. The dive platform is wide and open with a rear facing lounge that creates a wonderful on-water play area idea for swimming or disembarking with ease via the inbuilt ladder,” explains Tim. A retractable shower allows you to rinse of your feet, wash the kids before dinner, or take a late afternoon shower. The cockpit layout is one of the best designed for this length boat. Tim says, “The captain has the comfort of a bench seat while passengers can enjoy the view from a long port side lounge. But that’s not all, there are further lounge seating encompassing the cockpit only interrupted by a transom passage way.” There is ample room to lay down a towel and catch some sunshine. At the helm of the F330, there is a distinct white colour dashboard with chrome gauges and stylish wheel. There is space for an optional inbuilt GPS and sounder, and offers easy access to the bow with the walk through windscreen. It also has some very clever features such as a transom BBQ, removable centre table, removable esky and sound system speakers positioned in the targa. Tim says, “With a capacity for 160 litres of fresh water and 380 litres of fuel you can go places. There has been no short cuts taken during the design and construction of this range of sports cruisers.” He is not wrong—the cockpit is the ideal spot to kick back when underway and provides passengers with all-round views. Accessed through a cockpit doorway, the cabin below boasts homely accommodations that are very livable for a family. With a 1.8-metre head height, you can prepare meals in the kitchenette utilising the stainless steel sink, microwave, refrigerator and glass door pantry. Immediately to starboard is the well-proportioned bathroom
with shower head. A dinette for family dinners easily converts to a double bed surrounded by windows, and overhead, a hatchway and mirrored bedhead. Another double bed amidships, which features an iconic and stylish large rectangular window finished in tinted glass and stainless steel, will ensure the kids are never bored and always have a view of nature outside. The cabin has LED lighting and European quality carpets, and plenty of cupboards, drawers and under-seat storage. “The fit-out is superb. The wood finishings are all class,” enthuses Tim. Tim lists just a few features, but stresses this boat needs to be seen to be believed. Tim is confident this model will become a local favourite. There are various petrol and diesel options available for the F330. The single engine models are powered by a 300HP to 400HP engine in either petrol or diesel, while a twin-engine set-up is fitted with 150HP to 265HP diesels, or 190HP to 260HP petrol engines. The engine access is first-rate, through a large gas-lift hatch in the cockpit giving generous room to complete required maintenance. The F330 is a responsive performer and shows no reluctance when pushing itself onto the plane. Overall, the Fibrafort F330 lives up well to its sports cruiser label, and will no doubt impress current sport cruiser users and those wanting an all-round family fun boat. Tim invites you to come aboard and see for yourself at Stefan Boating World “The best thing about the boat is the price, which at under $200,000 represents excellent value given the quality of the fit out and equipment provided as standard.” “The Fibrafort F330 epitomises a sports cruiser with sporty good looks and a layout that defies the boat’s physical dimensions. It is a beauty!”
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BOAT GOLD COAST
HAINES HUNTER APPOINT STEFAN BOATING WORLD 760 R - Series
525 Prowler
585 R - Series aines Hunter has recently appointed Stefan Boating World as their newest Queensland H dealer. This new appointment will provide fishing and boating enthusiasts from the Gold Coast to Brisbane with an exceptional dealer to test and purchase a Haines Hunter vessel.
He is right! The Haines Hunter 675 Offshore Hardtop recently won the Trade-a-Boat Magazine’s ‘Best Fibreglass Fishing Boat of 2015’ award.
565 Offshore
Stefan Boating World Chief Executive Officer Steve Ackerie says, “Our company objective is to align ourselves with a number of strong and prestigious brands that fill segments of our over-all business model. The Haines Hunter boats are the best known boat brand in Australia. We provide a first class buying experience and excellent after sales service creating a perfect match for our family fun and fishing customers.” Ackerie states, “The boating community will be excited at what is a high performance pairing of two amazing brands. The Haines Hunter range will be powered by Yamaha outboard motors. With Stefan Boating World having the largest range of Yamaha’s on the Gold Coast, there will be ideal power-to-weight for every model.”
HAINES HUNTER 565: AN AFFORDABLE OFF SHORE PACKAGE
The east coast of Australia is experiencing its best marlin bite in 10 years. The north has miles and miles of offshore reefs that you can fish till your arms are sore. The problem for many is getting out there without having to spend in excess of $80,000 Based at the Coomera precinct in a custom-built for an ocean-going game vessel. That used to be showroom and workshop, Stefan Boating World a problem, until Haines Hunter released the allenable buyers the opportunity of a sea trial, to new 565 Offshore. The new 565 has all you need drive a Haines Hunter prior to purchase and ensure to get off shore and target game fish. Equipped with a wide beam, a huge cockpit for its length, a they choose the model that best suits their needs. 200-litre fuel tank and high sides for fighting big Haines Hunter National Dealer Development fish, the 565 Offshore is ready to head out and Manager Tim Davies comments about the alltangle with apex predators. important sea trial. “This is something that any potential buyer will greatly appreciate as it instills a Haines Hunter’s Tim Davies comments, “This is strong sense of confidence and security with their one of the most affordable vessels that you can purchase. This is really what we want our buyers to take off shore in rough ocean conditions. For too experience, and we can efficiently deliver that.” long anglers have missed out on some amazing fishing opportunities. Never has a boat of this “The launch of Haines Hunter at Stefan Boating calibre been available at price that sits under World is timely with the Gold Coast Boat Show season only a few months away. We plan to get as $60,000. It is equipped with high sides for safely many boaties in front of these best built Australian fighting fish, a wide beam for stability and our famous deep-vee hull for soft offshore handling.” boats to see for themselves. Let me assure you, The beauty of the 565 is not only its value for you take one of these boats outside the Seaway, money, but also its versatility. Designed as a family and you quickly find out that Haines Hunter brand cross-over, the 565 doubles perfectly as a family comes into its own with its exceptional handling cruiser. Equipped with a fold-down rear lounge, and offshore prowess,” explains Ackerie. roomy cabin, rear entry door, and a port for a ski pole, the 565 can be just as fun for a day out snorkeling and water skiing as chasing marlin.
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The 565 Offshore is the most affordable and versatile offshore vessel that Haines Hunter have ever produced. It can keep up with the big boys out on the open ocean and get you on to that fish-of-a-lifetime for less. CHOOSING A HAINES HUNTER - So you’ve settled on a Haines Hunter but you’re having trouble choosing which boat from our range? With this in mind, here are some things to think about to help narrow down your next purchase. BUDGET & SIZE - The first thing you need to ask yourself is what boat size you want. Things to take into consideration are: where you will store it, what kind of car you have to tow it with, and then what boat size you will need for the kind of fishing, diving or cruising to be done. INSHORE OR OFFSHORE? You also need to think about the weather you will mainly be fishing in. If you stay in the Broadwater, rivers and estuaries and you will be doing a lot of lure-casting, then one of our centre consoles may be the best choice. If you are going to be off shore all year round, then one of our hard top or enclosed boats would be a better choice during cold offshore weather. ARE YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE FAMILY INVOLVED? - Think about seating arrangements, water skiing and swimming? A boat with a cabin, fold-down lounge and a dive door may be best. POWER AND FUEL USAGE - All Haines Hunter boats have a minimum and maximum horsepower ratings. While it may be tempting to just opt for the maximum horsepower, you may find that a smaller engine suits your needs perfectly which will save you money on the initial purchase and on fuel consumption. OPTIONAL EXTRAS - The list of options that can be installed on your Haines Hunter is endless and you may need many or just a few. Have a good think about what you need and remember you can always add items as you go along. If you need further info, call 07 5665 8400 or visit www.stefanboatingworld.com.au.
680 Patriot
Davies further states, “Our own feedback and experience at boat shows and a lot of feedback from dealers clearly showed that many customers were looking for a boat that wouldn’t break the bank, yet an awesome fishing vessel that would suit the family. We spent a lot of time in research and development designing a boat that would keep dad happy on a day out chasing tuna, and mum and the kids happy on a fun family day out.” FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GOLD COAST
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR LUMITEC AND AUSTRALIAN MARINE WHOLESALE he advent of LED lighting has sparked something T of a revolution in the marine industry, signalling a bright and colourful future for boat owners who like
offering style, refinement, meticulous design and amazing performance. The Caprera LT and Capri LT flood lights also each output 1000 lumens and have been rigorously tested for shock and vibration, water ingress, impact, weather ability, electromagnetic radiation and overall durability.
to spend as much time as possible on the water.
At the forefront of this quantum leap forward in technology is the US manufacturer Lumitec Lighting, whose range is distributed exclusively throughout Australia by the experienced team of marine professionals at Australian Marine Wholesale.
Customers with high expectations, from the world’s top custom yacht builders to the US Coast Guard, have relied on Lumitec’s Maxillume line of flood lights for nearly a decade. Errol and the experienced Australian Marine Wholesale team help boat owners every day to navigate what can be a minefield of information to ensure they get exactly what they need, at the right price. But the service goes much further than that.
Managing director Errol Cain says that Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights are much more modern in their design, use far less electricity and have a longer life span than traditional incandescent bulb lights, making them a very attractive option for both new boat owners and those refitting their vessels. “With various wattages, they have a vast array of on-board applications spanning everything from underwater lights, utility, mood and courtesy lights, to deck lights, flood lights and spreader lights,” he says. Over 30 years in the marine industry, Errol has fitted evolving technology to thousands of vessels—from super yachts to sailing yachts, trawlers to trailer boats—and he has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience. Errol states that Lumitec, founded in 2007, is continuing to define the LED lighting landscape in terms of performance, reliability and quality. “In 2016, Lumitec is adding an exciting new range of lighting options for boat owners. The Seablaze Spectrum X underwater lights, for instance, offer nearly infinite colour output options and userselectable modes, easy surface-mount, two-wire hookup and no external control boxes, putting every colour of the rainbow right at your fingertips.” Errol says that with thousands of hours of maintenance-free use and low electrical current draw, Lumitec boat lights, such as the full-colour Mirage Spectrum, Halo Spectrum and Orbit Spectrum, are ideal for both interior and exterior overhead boat lighting.
“Lumitec’s class-leading flood lights and spreader lights also surpass all the competition,” he says. “These products are used on many of the finest boats and yachts in the world, and such is their reliability that they are also used by emergency services and the US Special Forces.
“Before we recommend a product to our customers, we listen and learn how they use their boats so we can ensure they get exactly what they need without paying too much for something they may never even fully use, or perhaps recommend a better alternative,” says Errol. “Quite often, people who buy elsewhere come to us to help sort out issues with their equipment and it’s then that they see what really sets Australian Marine Wholesale apart. We not only source, supply, install and calibrate the most reliable accessories and equipment ourselves, we also educate our customers to ensure they enjoy the full features of their purchase, and this is a key at the core of our philosophy.”
The extensive suite of leading-brand products distributed through Australian Marine Wholesale testifies to these long-established links: Raymarine, “The new Zephyr spreader light is well suited to lighting the foredeck of an elegant sloop or the cockpit Garmin, Iris Innovations, Icom, Simrad, Lumitec, Aqualuma, Fusion, Clarion, Mastervolt, and Blue of a luxurious sport yacht, illuminating an area nearly Water Desalination, to name but a few. 24 feet in diameter with more than 1000 lumens. A lumen is standard unit of light as it is perceived “Our job at AMW is to ensure our customers receive by the human eye. Essentially, it will tell you how great value from their investment and this is not bright something is, unlike a watt, which is actually a something we take lightly.” measurement of energy consumption or output.” For more information and a full product range from Also new for 2016 are the Octane LED tower/ Australian Marine Wholesale, please visit their spreader 1000-lumen lights for wakeboarding boats, website www.amwholesale.com.au.
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Compelling marine design and technology Superior electronics for every demanding marine application – inland fishing, coastal fishing, sailing and day cruising or larger powerboats.
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The brighter choice in LED lighting is Lumitec - underwater, down lights, flood, task, cockpit, courtesy, accent and rail lights in over 500 lighting configurations and 22 models.
P +61 7 5580 1511 E sales@amwholesale.com.au W www.amwholesale.com.au
16/10/2015 6:48 pm
35
BOAT GUIDE
Sailing Yachts:
Monohulls VS Multihulls By Nic Welch
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ossing up between a monohull vessel and a catamaran—maybe even a trimaran? Sorry, can’t help you! Monos, cats and tris are all great vessels, and each type has its strengths and weaknesses.
WHICH IS FASTER?
There are many factors that influence the speed of a sailing vessel. These include total sail area, the cut of sail, the rake of the mast, hull shape, hull length, vessel mass, wetted surface area of the hull, and whether the vessel has a planing or displacement hull. The basic principle of sailing is that a sail is foil-shaped, similar to an aeroplane wing. As wind passes across the sail or foil, the wind travels faster over the outside curve of the sail causing a low pressure system, which “pulls” the vessel towards the wind. As wind normally travels, parallel to the surface of the water, maximum drive from a sail is achieved when the leading edge of the sail remains perpendicular to the direction of the wind, i.e. when the mast is vertical. Given the wide beam and low centre of gravity of multihulls, they do not heel as much as monohulls and therefore are generally much faster through the water (perhaps 25 percent faster comparing a mono and a multi of equal length), which is the reason why the America’s Cup boats have turned into catamarans. To reduce heeling, many monohulls have a fixed-weighted keel to counteract the force of the wind upon the sail. Smaller yachts tend to have a swing keel, and must rely upon crew weight or ballast to counteract the same force. The hull shape of yachts also plays an important role in vessel speed. A well-designed yacht hull can reduce the wetted surface area (the total area of hull in contact with the water) when the vessel heels, reducing the friction or drag of the hull through the water. The optimum vessel speed is achieved as a trade-off between maximum sail drive and friction through the water. Smaller catamarans can effectively half their total wetted surface area by completely lifting one hull out of the water. Speed of a vessel through the water is not the only factor that determines whether a monohull or multihull will reach a destination first. The maximum angle a sailing vessel can point towards the direction of the wind will determine how many times a sailing vessel must tack. Tacking is generally a slow process in large sailing vessels. Vessel speed through the water can even drop right down to stationary during the tacking process. Monohulls can point higher into the breeze than catamarans, and monos generally lose less speed while tacking. In narrow channels and waterways, such as the Southport Broadwater, the higher a vessel can point into the breeze the better, as fewer number of tacks are required.
VESSEL DRAUGHT The draught of a sailing vessel plays an important role in shallow waterways, such as the Southport Broadwater and its tributaries. Catamarans normally have short stubby fixed keels, allowing them to sail further outside the dredged navigation channels, which can help minimise the amount of tacking required. The reduced draught also allow access to shallower anchorages. Monohulls with swing keels can also access shallow waterways when the swing keel is retracted. However, the vessel cannot be under sail when fully retracted. Monos with fixed keels can cause significant damage to the keel and hull if it strikes the bottom. An advantage of a shallow-draught vessel is that you can purposefully beach the vessel to perform minor maintenance under the waterline. While removing barnacles on antifouled hulls when on the waterways is illegal, other maintenance such as inspecting the hull and propeller for damage, propeller replacement, anode replacement, transducer inspection, and rudder repair is a free option compared to the relatively expensive alternative of lifting your boat out of the water. Catamarans will remain level while beached (and trimarans almost level), which is a great advantage if you intend to sleep on board the vessel, use the galley, or use the head! Swing keel monohulls will list up to 45 degrees when beached, 36
causing a very uncomfortable sleep and making time on board between tides a general misery. Fixed keel yachts are not intended to be beached.
ANCHORING AND BERTHING
Multihulls are more affected by windage than deep-draughted vessels. This can be of concern when anchoring in popular anchorages, such as Wave Break Island, Tipplers Passage, or Tiger Mullet Channel, especially when there is wind against tide. A vessel with a deep draught will be affected more by tide and current than wind, depending upon wind strength. A multihull and monohull anchored within the swing room of each other can certainly collide while both at anchor. When berthing at a floating pontoon or a fixed jetty, a catamaran with dual engines will generally be easier to come alongside the berth, compared to a monohull without bow thrusters, or a trimaran with a single engine. If berthing at a marina, multihull owners may need to pay for two berths given the wide beam of their vessels.
WHICH HAS MORE ROOM? Given the shallower draught of multihulls compared to monohulls, multihulls will generally have less headroom inside the hulls than a monohull of equal length.However, if a multihull is of considerable length, then an enclosed cabin spanning the hulls is possible,allowing far more open space than a monohull. Deck space on a multi is also more than a mono. Multihulls will generally have a greater passenger capacity than a monohull, which is why many commercial sailing operators prefer multihulls over monohulls. WHICH IS SAFER?
In the case of a catastrophic hull breach, a catamaran with one breached hull will be able to remain afloat if the other hull is intact. Both multihulls and monohulls should nowadays be constructed with multiple watertight bulkheads and adequate foam flotation to prevent sinking. However, this theory relies upon the quality of the manufacturer and modifications made to the vessel since manufacture. In cyclonic seas, a monohull will handle the conditions far better than a multihull. Having said that, a multihull may be able to take advantage of its speed to avoid an approaching severe weather system by sailing around it. In the event of capsize, a multihull will eventually become inverted and will be impossible to upright unassisted. However, a monohull with a sufficiently weighted keelshould upright itself if it becomes inverted. Multihulls are harder to capsize than monohulls. Catamarans normally have dual engines, which is an advantage over single engine vessels in case of engine failure.
WHAT IS MORE PLEASANT TO SAIL? When close-hauled,
monohulls can heel severely, which can be quite uncomfortable to sit in for extended periods of time on long voyages. The heeling makes general duties, such as making coffee and preparing food, quite a challenge. Catamarans can have a tendency for chop to slap the underside of the deck between the hulls, which can be quite loud and cause a shudder felt throughout the boat in moderate seas.
WHAT SHOULD I BUY? My only suggestion is to join several yacht clubs and multihull clubs as an associate member, and put an ad up on the club noticeboard as a crew member willing to sail on board as many types of vessels as possible, before investing heavily into your next adventure. Southport Yacht Club, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Multihull Yacht Club Queensland, and Queensland Cruising Yacht Club are popular sailing clubs in the Gold Coast and Brisbane regions. What you primarily intend to use your vessel for will ultimately influence what type of vessel is best suited for you. Whether you intend to use your sailing vessel for racing or cruising (or perhaps a combination of both), entertaining guests, overnight or day trips, your sailing ability, and your budget will influence your decision. FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GOLD COAST
MARITIMO NOW ALL THINGS TO ALL BOAT OWNERS
(Left to Right) Peter McGrath, Phil Candler and Gary Klein have thrown out the welcome mat to Gold Coast boaties at the company’s Hope Island service centre.
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eading luxury cruiser manufacturer Maritimo has just completed a major upgrade of its Hope Harbour-based marina, travel lift, service centre and shipyard and can now provide a one-stop shop for boaties with craft, ranging from trailer boats up to 70-tonne megayachts. Maritimo’s general manager of operations, Phil Candler, said the Hope Harbour facility was perfectly located on the northern Gold Coast and boat owners do not have to travel the extra distance up the Coomera River. “Being at the southern end of the Sanctuary Cove Resort, we are easy to get to and with the 70-tonne travel lift and under cover marina berths we can accommodate some serious sized boats,” Mr Chandler says.
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“We have the capability to do antifouling, full hull resprays, all electrical work, engineering, varnishing, cabinetry, boat refits, electronics upgrades, upholstery and fiberglass repairs. We are registered agents for MerCruiser and Volvo Penta and the team that we have assembled at Hope Harbour is second to none in the industry.”
The Maritimo shipyard team can arrange the service of engines and generators, supply davit systems and hydraulic swim platforms, and undertake vessel detailing. Mr Candler says Maritimo appointed Mr Gary Klein as Hope Island Service and Shiplift Manager. “Gary has come from running his own successful business and fully understands the customers’ expectations in a service-based industry. He has a great team of highly skilled staff and contractors headed by Peter McGrath, who are on hand to work on all types of vessels.” Mr Klein says the location of the Maritimo facility is one its biggest draw cards. “We are wind- and tide-protected and that makes it easy for boats of all sizes to access the marina and the travel lift. Many people are not aware that this facility is available to the
general boating public, but we are going to change that. We are going to be competitive in the market place and we have a team of highly skilled and professional people here who can provide advice on any aspect of boat maintenance and upkeep.” The Maritimo facility has hardstand capacity for thirty vessels with several undercover sheds for major work that requires weather protection. “We also have a significant marina with covered berths and abundant car parking for boaties working on the vessels or having work undertaken,” says Mr Klein.
Maritimo Service and Shipyard combines
their award winning boat builders with their race team technicians, and delivers a service offering like no other in the market. With their world-class and quality build processes, Maritimo Service and Shipyard is available for all makes and models to benefit from, and delivers truly premium servicing to all boats and owners alike. Offering a free quote and inspection on factory services, is a Maritimo Service and Shipyard guarantee. Capable of servicing all makes and models from 15 feet to 70 tonnes, we also hold certification for Volvo Penta and Mercruiser service. Adding to our offering is our unique undercover marina, which means our technicians continue to work, rain, hail or shine, and ensures a speedy return of your vessel.
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MARITIMO SERVICE & SHIPYARD Award Winning Boat Builders | Race Team Technicians | Undercover Marina Paint shop facilities for up to 80 footers | Fully enclosed refit sheds with overhead cranes.
FREE QUOTE & INSPECTION ON FACTORY SERVICES Additions & Alterations Anti Fouling Engine Service Generator Service Prop Speed Underwater Lights Deck Wash Systems
Detailing Polishing Upholstery Re-Carpeting Electronics Electrical Hydraulic Swim Platforms
Mercruiser genuine parts GPS and Sounder upgrades Dulon paint protection Tenders Davit systems
ALL MAKES & MODELS FROM 15 feet to 70 ton WELCOME CERTIFIED: Volvo Penta service | Cummins service | Mercruiser service
07 5509 3618
Lot 7, John Lund Drive, Hope Island, QLD, 4212 maritimoservice.com.au
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37
BOAT TECHNOLOGY
By Matt Jackson
MALIBU WRIST CONTROL BAND Malibu’s new wrist control Surf Band is the latest product from innovation experts, Malibu Boats. Complementing their already established and revolutionary Power Wedge II and Surf Gate wake products, the Surf Band allows you, the rider, to have complete control of the size and shape of the wake produced for maximum versatility. The power to adjust and finely tune the exact wake characteristics you want while riding is a unique advantage when it comes to perfecting certain manoeuvers without stopping and starting continuously. Its slim-line design and simple tri-optional interface enables you to quickly change the wake’s size, shape, speed and length with minimal fuss and distraction depending on your tow needs. The Surf Band immediately manipulates the wake to your desired effect, while also informing your driver of your actions through the command centre.
SMARTPHONE NAVIGATING
These days, every boat owner must own a smart phone, and just about anyone with a smart phone has most likely had a crack at using Google or Apple navigation systems. They are vast and expansive systems and they have to be— I mean, these gigantic companies just went and mapped the planet in its entirety, using satellites, a complicated task in itself, and in the process they added in some cool little features that may also seem complicated. However, with a little knowledge you can use these special services with less frustration and a lot more practicality.
Here are my top three app features: 1. Offline maps (Google) In Google, there is a handy little feature for those heading to remote areas where you may not get a signal. Maps rely heavily on Wi-Fi and cellular data signals in conjunction with your phone’s GPS to determine your position. Before you go out of range, you can download a relevant portion of the map by hitting the menu button and clicking ‘Make Available Offline’. This will allow you to save an area of up to 50km x 50km! 2. Share your location (Apple) Meeting someone on the water? Try using your iMessage. In the iMessage conversation click on the ‘Details’ option on the top-right of the screen, then select ‘Share My Location’. It will then give you the option to share your location with this person in the conversation for a specific period: for one hour, until the end of that day, or indefinitely. Upon selecting an option, it will send that person a request for him/ her to share locations with you (but only with their approval will it allow you to continue). So there you have it—no more confusing directions or missing seeing each other by five minutes. 3. Live Traffic (Google and Apple) One of the handiest little features of both of these navigation programs is the ability to see what the road traffic is up to, making it easy to avoid any accidents of heavily congested streets—especially heading out to a busy boat ramp. To the boatie, this means you reach the water sooner. Both Google and Apple have unique ways of displaying this information. In both platforms, orange means slow moving traffic, and red means they are going nowhere. Disclaimer The above tips do not imply that a boatie should not learn how to read charts, nor does it suggest that you use a smart phone instead of a marine radio. Boat Gold Coast encourages all boaties to learn to read navigational charts and to use a marine radio.
Ph: (07) 5580 4465 38
www.dockpro.com.au
BE A PRO WITH GOPRO All the fuss with GoPro action shots may have convinced you to get a GoPro camera yourself. There is a world of GoPro models and options out there and you may think that picking the right one (in addition to what accessories are applicable to you) is the hardest part of owning a GoPro. You would be surprised that using a GoPro can be just as difficult as purchasing one. Instant viewing. For starters, they can be hard to aim, especially if you have it mounted on something. Sometimes you can film an entire session only to get it home and realise that you have it pointed too high or low. Unless you fork out for the optional LCD backpack or the most expensive GoPro Black Edition, which comes standard with an LCD, you won’t know until you get home. GoPro App. This brings me to the handiest free feature GoPro has to offer—and that is the GoPro app. Download the GoPro application on your smart phone, sync it with your GoPro via your phone’s Wi-Fi and voila! You have an instant live feed of all footage and complete remote control of your GoPro—not to mention the ability to review and delete said footage instantly. I cannot overemphasise how easy and practical this app is for the GoPro users. With a range of up to 180m, you can focus on providing your best footage while leaving somebody else in charge of the filming. A fisheye for an eye. Do not forget about the fisheye effect of the GoPro. You may take an incredible photo of your surroundings thinking it will turn out amazing, only to find that you can hardly see a thing. GoPro’s are meant for close-up shots only. You can play around with the capture settings, edit the photos with the GoPro editing program, or modify the lens itself to reduce this effect, but they are still not great for distance photography.
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FEB - APR 2016
BOAT ANGLER
PWC FISHING
YOUR FAST WAY TO BIG FISH By Jake Van Zyl & Jordan O’Keeffe
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ersonal Water Craft (PWC) fishing is fast growing in popularity worldwide and for good reason. With an ever increasing number of PWC being sold, and the manner in which they have evolved over the years, they are much more versatile and lend themselves to more applications, one of them being fishing! For a novice fisher, there are many reason why gearing your PWC to go fishing is a good idea. The practical reasons are that it requires no crew, launching is much easier than a boat, and the clean-up time is shorter. Once you have equipped your PWC and gained experienced, PWC fishing becomes very efficient, so much so that if you have an hour free in your day, you can always go fishing. Further, the agility and speed at which the PWC can travel dramatically reduces travel time to fishing locations with more time to fish. For the experienced fisher, the PWC offers access to waterways where many boats cannot easily go. Out on the PWC, you are very close to the waterline and open to nature. When you do hook a fish, your bent rod tip will most likely be beneath the water’s surface making for some exciting action. While lending itself to some great photo opportunities, being so close to water can create some intimidating situations when you land a serious-size fish. There are many factors that make a PWC a successful fishing craft. The turbulence and noise in the water while trawling is minimal because the propeller, which is in a housing (impeller), and the exhaust are only a foot below the water’s surface, whereas with an outboard motor, the propeller and exhaust are at least a metre below the water’s surface. Additionally, a PWC is very easy to manoeuvre in and out of the surf which makes fishing offshore a pleasure. Technically, once a large fish has been hooked, retrieval is made easy. Being light in the water, the PWC is pulled around by the fish while
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reeling in, and eventually the fish and craft meet half way. Once the fish is close, there is no need to worry about your line getting caught on props or outboard motor “legs”. EQUIPMENT You will need a suitable PWC preferably a 3-seater with a 4-stroke engine such as the Yamaha FX high ouput which is renowned for its reliability, stability and ease of use. The PWC can be fitted with rod holders, Tubby storage units or an ice box. The Tubbys and ice box are easily removed in the event that you and the family wish to use your PWC for a normal recreational ride. Ideally, the PWC should be coupled with a trailer that can be launched and retrieve in tidal areas on sand that is fitted with an appropriate-size winch and pivoting rollers. You will require rods, reels, soft bait, slow jigs and trolling lures, gaff, kill-stick, spearfishing stringer, a pair of protective shoes or booties, and of course, a lifejacket. The rod is your own choice, some preferring a stiff rod. Experts recommend that you take just two or three rods so that your fishing access is not complicated with tackle and you can manoeuvre around without being obstructed. You will need an active work space to continually cast and retrieve your baits. If the fish are not biting, then try different colours, sizes and types of baits. The government-required safety equipment for a PWC when on smooth waters is a torch and capacity label. Additionally, required on partially smooth waters are a V-sheet and flare kit. Further out, beyond the partially smooth waters and more than two nautical miles from land, an EPIRB (406MHz) is compulsory. Also, take your mobile phone and the phone numbers of your local volunteer marine rescuers. If you intend to be out after dark, then navigations lights are essential. GAME FISH ON A PWC When targeting game fish, your best success will be by trolling lures. Try a
Rapalas CD 14 MAG, trolled at a speed of 16kmh to 20kmh, and a distance of approximately 100 metres behind the PWC. Just as successful is a Williamson lure (such as Exciter Bird, Kingfish Jig, Octopus Squid, Popper Plug, Bait-O-Matic) or a Cuda Duster being trolled at 4kmh to 8kmh and a distance of roughly 30 metres behind the PWC. Once the fish is on the PWC use a spearfishing stringer which is fed through the fish’s gills and tie to the PWC. The fish are kept in the foot wells of the PWC, and on a 3-seater, there is enough space to hold about 40kgs to 50kgs of fish. PWC FISH FINDER AND GPS To locate fish, it is recommended that a Fish finder/GPS is fitted. If you want great value for money, look no further than the Garmin Echo Map series. These well priced units are very user friendly, reliable and also come preloaded with all mapping and detail for Australia. The head unit should be mounted in a suitable position where the screen is in your line of sight, such as up top near the gauge. This is important for maintaining direction while on the trawl A double battery system is also highly recommended for added safety and peace of mind. Although the sounder draws very little power while turned on, running the two batteries parallelcan also come in handy especially when restarting the jet ski, the starter motor can draw so much amperage, that with one battery often the sounder dips off before you get a chance to save your marks. Most riders are looking to join like-minded people for PWC social events. Beyond PWC trekking together, riders are now joining one another for a fishing adventure and finding great enjoyment and success doing so. Here on the Gold Coast, an increasing numbers of PWC’s are being used for fishing on the Broadwater, out at sea, and on the rivers and canals. You can find groups online or by asking your local PWC and fishing tackle agents.
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BOAT SPORT
It’s a
Jet Ski Wonderland
out here! The Gold Coast is well known for its beautiful beaches and surf, the glittery nightlife, and the magnificent hinterland. What is not so well known is that there is no better place for Jet Skiing than the Gold Coast either. MANDY BROWN of The Jet Ski Club tells us how we can have our own Jet Ski adventures in the city and beyond. he extensive protected waters around more T islands than we have counted provide a never ending adventure of riding. Even on rare days
of less than perfect weather, there is always somewhere sheltered. Jet Skiing has changed so much now from when it first began. Back in the 70s, the Jet Ski was known for being an expensive toy with little range and even less reliability. Over the years, modern four-stroke motors have become standard and some of the watercrafts have developed into stable three-seaters with fuel tank capacities of 70 litres or more, allowing distances up to 160 kilometres. The storage areas have also grown to accommodate everything you need, like an overnight bag and a tent. I have even seen a Jet Skier pull out a BBQ! Despite the size increase, we can easily tow two Jet Skis on a trailer around the country for a holiday adventure.
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PLANNING FOR THE ADVENTURE How far you can go is still ultimately governed by fuel availability. However, the many marinas on our waterways provide fuel on the water. We usually strap a couple of 20-litre fuel containers on the back which give us an extra 80 kilometres or so. These come in handy at locations where there is no fuel on the water, but where a petrol station is close to the shore. Not all adventure rides can be done in one day at a leisurely pace. So occasionally, we stay overnight either camping or in a waterfront holiday rental, or bed and breakfast. Food is available in so many places you will never go hungry on inland waters. There are luxury five-star hotels, resorts and restaurants that welcome us. There are little cafes and bars on remote islands and many places to stop with pre-packed picnic. So with good planning, your trip is almost unrestricted. Many Southerners make their way to the Gold Coast adventure waterways for their holidays. A couple of years ago, a well-known retired Gold Coast Lifeguard, named Milton, rode a Jet Ski home from Sydney. The weather on the Gold Coast makes it comfortable to ride all-year around. In fact, winter tends to have less wind making it fantastic for offshore adventures. With the right safety equipment and sufficient fuel supply on board, a Jet Ski can take you well off shore to visit the many reefs known for diving and fishing. Of course, this takes you into the pathways of the migrating whales which have to be seen to be believed. Off shore is their playground and if you have a Jet Ski, this is an absolute “must do” on the adventure-riding bucket list.
UP CLOSE WITH WILDLIFE The wildlife and marine life are second to none. A Jet Skier is close to the water so you are able to get a great view of it all. We often raft up as a group and get out the coffee flasks to take a break, jibber jabber about our Jet Skis, and observe the local marine life doing their daily routine. Once, some dolphins popped out of the water and swam backwards making a laughing sound to say hello. We often hear them clicking and whistling while under the skis. If we are in the water, they will swim around us and under us having a good close look. We have even had them swim up to skis and jump over them. Dugongs are usually shy but they are also keen to have a look at us when we are still. While stopped off the Gold Coast you can often see turtles on the bottom feeding on grass.
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The seals off Coolangatta come up to us if we call them. They seem to love swimming around us and having a look too, especially the little ones. Some of the fish we see are so colourful, and snorkelling around them is so much fun. The National Parks around the inland Islands provide an array of wildlife to observe. Eagle’s nests are amazing and watching them hunt is spectacular. There are kangaroos and wallabies everywhere who love watching Jet Skis. And, yes, they do swim. Once, I pulled up on South Stradbroke for a break. I was sitting on the shore having a snack and a wallaby came over and lay down next to me. At another time, our group photographer, Nigel, was taking some shots of a huge three-meter monitor lizard strolling by us. The lizard turned toward him and started to lick his lips, then took off after him. You have never seen anyone get a ski off the beach and into the water faster and the group was well entertained for the day.
GOLD COAST DESTINATIONS The Gold Coast Broadwater provides a sheltered haven for tubing and wakeboarding. Wave Break Island is one of the best places to set up your base camp, and locals choose the side that is sheltered from any wind that day. Jet Skiing has been around long enough that we are now seeing third generations growing up tubing there. A few times a year, the Gold Coast experiences huge surf. This is when you see the real Jet Ski adventurers’ trailers at the ramp. The Seaway provides excellent access through to open water, but on big days it too can become a very high adrenaline experience. Once outside, the surf is tremendous. If riding in a trough, it can
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actually turn dark in the shadows at the bottom. Many surfers enjoy the luxury of a Jet Ski tow-in to save the paddling. The extreme conditions are certainly not for everyone, but on most days there is a swell coming through that makes perfect conditions for some exciting wave jumping. Jet Skis are able to accelerate quickly, so timing your arrival at a steep one-meter “ramp” is an addictive adrenaline rush. For some riders this is all they do—week-in, week-out. When you venture out of the Gold Coast Seaway and choose to go north, you have a selection of islands such as Moreton and Bribie Islands, or the Sunshine Coast. If you choose to go south, there are the Tweed, Hastings or Richmond Rivers to name a few.
GETTING STARTED Getting started is much easier now than it has ever been. Firstly, you need a licence which is easy to obtain by completing a Jet Ski training from an accredited organisation. And of course, you need a Jet Ski. Since the arrival of the four-stroke engine in Jet Skis, they have become capable of doing thousands of hours of reliable service. There are many pre-owned Jet Skis to choose from in a very affordable price range from as low as $3,000. If reliable and designed for the conditions, they are all capable of adventure touring. Spending some time with experienced riders will get you on the right track in a short time. You can join the social riding groups once you feel ready and begin exploring our wonderful waterways with like-minded friends.
Jet Skiers are also not just about the fun. They are involved in matters that affect the welfare of the riders as well as the industry. The Australian Jet Ski Association acts on behalf of Jet Skiers’ interests on issues such as legislation, boat ramp facilities, advanced training and events. The association is independent of any manufacturers and operates as a selffunded not-for-profit. (ajsa.org.au) Visit www.jetskiclub.club for everything and anything you need to know that has been documented by enthusiasts with decades of experience. You will find plenty of information about what to wear, which makes and models are best for what activities, and most importantly, how to easily maintain your Jet Ski to keep it like new. Download the free app from www.jetskiapp.mobi to find other friends on the water or at the beach. If you’re not quite ready to dip your toe in the water yet, visit www.jetskitv.tv and watch some of the adventures, fun and friends on Jet Skis.
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BOAT GOLD COAST
LEIGH-SMITH YACHTS PERFECTLY CRAFTED NEW ALASKA 43 SEDAN Class-leading differences include the 4.2-metre beam and efficient variable deadrise hull design—measures that ensure comfortable cruising at nine to 10 knots, or a sprint at 22 knots, and at anchor, excellent stability, unlike many round-bilge designs. “At 16+ tonnes,she’s one of the heavier built motor yachts in the 43ft class and this displacement weight equals a softer ride and more stability to owners looking to go further for longer,” says Dean. Perhaps the most ingenious customisation added to Bilandra—the boat’s name derived from the blend of Bill and Rae—is the discreet, neat solar panels on the aft roof. The flushmounted panels tastefully curve to the roof profile and measure on a few millimetres thick, meaning they almost disappear. “In our previous boat, we had to run the generator before we could cook,” says Bill. “The solar panels and four extra batteries mean we can run almost all our systems off solar power. We have an Onan 4kw generator with sound shield and gas/water separator. The rest is solar-powered.”
P
lanning to cruise Australia’s east coast, Bill and Rae Hirn were determined to build the perfect boat, which, like the perfect man or woman, seems an improbable brief to fulfil. Bill and Rae were specific: A smaller, sedanstyle, compact, fuss-free, practical, quiet, comfortable, spacious boat with plenty of storage, easy access, and no external timber for minimal maintenance. “At our stage of life, we want all the comforts of home, without being slaves to our boat. This was our opportunity to design our dream boat from scratch,” says Bill, a plumber by trade who has owned and operated a stainless steel business, Hirco, since 1973, and ran a successful charter operation. “I’ve owned boats most of my life and was a professional skipper for 15 years. I’m fairly handy and added a lot of extras, such as stainless rod holders, water filter and desalinator, and we carry most of the boat’s spare parts on board. We’d had an Alaska 45 Flybridge for nine years and we knew the only people who could build our next boat for us were the Leigh-Smiths.” He approached the Leigh-Smiths and gave them the list of what was and was not required. “I told them we didn’t want a party boat—this was to be a serious cruising boat. We didn’t want airconditioning. It requires the generator running and we decided that would be too noisy. Although most people like it, we chose to do without it. We designed the boat so that with windows, doors and hatches with flyscreens, the breeze simply flows through.” Also on the list, a reduced swim platform to accommodate a custommade hydraulic davit for the tinny—no fancy RIB here. Bill is experienced in navigating the atolls and beaches of the Whitsundays and knows the fearless tinny will handle the most jagged shorelines, where an inflatable could be torn.
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Dean and Ryan Leigh-Smith, third generation of a venerable Gold Coast boating family, head up Alaska Motor Yachts AUS/NZ. Their vision is to design and build classic trawler-style boats, unrivalled for their seaworthiness and fuel-efficiency with luxuriously contemporary interiors. The Alaska 43 (13 metres) is the newest model in the series that includes the 47 Sedan, 47 Flybridge, 49 Yacht Fisher, 55ft Sedan, 55ft Flybridge and 60 Sedan series. The team at Alaska relished the challenge of building Bill and Rae’s ultimate boat. “Bill and Rae have owned an Alaska before, which meant they knew exactly what they wanted,” says Dean Leigh-Smith. “The new build, the first of our 43ft sedan models, allowed Bill the scope to make numerous changes that he and Rae wanted. As a previous owner, he was very in tune with the vessel’s dimensions and how to get the best out of them. We designed the boat for Bill and Rae with AUTO-CAD drawings and fine-tuned all his custom requests, working with them over several drafts before we got it to his exact design.”
Forged from the same hull mould as the 47 Sedan, the 43 is positioned as the “compact version” Alaska without compromise, and built to the highest of standards for the most discerning owners.
The enclosed cockpit features custom-made flyscreens for keeping the bugs out and allowing the view and the seabreeze in. Two cockpit side doors were installed at the factory, more practical for ease of access at the Hirn’s waterfront pontoon at their home near Redcliff, Brisbane.
The standard layout sees a moulded bench seat with table option. The cockpit boasts an additional isotherm freezer, extra power points, Bill’s rod holders and towel racks, and access to the impeccably laid out engine room, still pristine just one week since handover. There is no bench seating or fixed furniture, as Bill and Rae like it that way. “We bring out the teak table and chairs when we need them, and we often use an electric barbeque out the back instead of the flush-mounted stove top. We enjoy a bit of fishing so we keep it uncluttered and clean out here.” Rae was proactive from the outset. Bill explains, “I wanted her input because if she likes it, she’ll be keen to use it.” From Rae’s input, the couple decided that the master suite be amidships, with an island queen-sized walkaround bed that is easy to make, windows for cross ventilation and lots of head room, and ensuite with full height shower. Forward, two generously-sized single beds trimmed in custom Sheridan linens comprise the guest cabin. Bill points out there is plenty of room if families wished to install a third bunk bed, or opt instead for a queen-sized bed.
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GOLD COAST The 43-model carries 2,000 litres of fuel and 800 litres of water, which Bill plans to boost with the installation of his desalination machine. “They’ve done a great job with the engineering,” says a proud Bill, surveying the symmetrical, welllabelled machinery, then pointing out his modifications in the water filter and desalination system. “All the boat’s water goes through the filter. The reason for this is that you tend to get water stains in the loo and like most boats if water sits for a while a tanktaste from the drinking water tanks.” In the saloon, Rae’s touch is evident. The meals area is a neat galley with table and banquet seating, large fridge and freezer, stovetop, bar, and storage, storage and more storage. The aft galley to port which opens through a stainless and glass aft bulkhead to the cockpit is designed for seamless flow and socialising onboard no matter the weather. Bill, whose expertise came to the fore in devising and installing a nifty swivel bracket for the TV. “We don’t use the stove very often, so I made this cover for more bench space,” he says referring to yet another piece of his handiwork. Features recognised as hallmarks of the Alaska brand retained in this model include the two large doors port and starboard and stainless steel flip-up aft bulkhead windows that open to the cockpit, enhancing space and airflow. High gunwales with stainless oval profile safety rails and wide walkways lead to the bow, for sunbathers or stargazers.
Economical to own in all aspects, the twin 6.7-litre Cummins 380hp engines deliver reliable, quiet and efficient cruising at 17 knots through conventional shaft drives. There is no sunroof as the Hirn’s prefer to stay away from the sun. But Dean and Ryan located a strategically placed Manship SS deck hatch overhead the helm position with an Oceanair sunblock/flyscreen system ensuring ventilation or full block-out is available on demand. Clients can choose non-skid composite decking which are durable and UV-resistant, requiring just a quick hose down—catering to Bill’s credo of “minimal maintenance”. However, traditional teak decks are still available for the purists. Other standard features include the opening polished stainless steel ManShip Portlights with flyscreens to let the fresh air in, reverse cycle marine air-conditioning making for a comfortable environment from Cooktown to Hobart, and the side power thrusters for ease of
manoeuvring. The standard vessel has full LED lighting and a 6.5kva Onan and 3kw inverter offering excellent onboard power generation on Leigh-Smith’s next 43 arriving shortly. Owner’s options see the tender typically located on Snap davits or even a hydraulic Freedom Lift can be fitted, as with electronics and a full customised Sheridan interior linen package. They even pre-plumb and leave a circuit for underwater lights and a desalination unit if the new owners so desire. Sitting regally on her custom-made 15-metre Seapen enclosure, dry and protected from marine growth, Bilandra has been Bill’s “man cave” as he tinkers about in preparation for their maiden voyage. The Seapen itself is a miracle of engineering and much more than a raised berth. “I just text ‘down’ to the digital receiver and it lowers into the water,” says Bill. “Then I text ‘up’ and it raises the boat and the water drains out. It is a marvel. It is a major investment, but it means a hell of a lot less maintenance,” observes Bill. Asked if they achieved their perfect boat in Bilandra, Bill doesn’t hesitate. “It’s a smaller boat, but it’s much better designed, with a better use of space. I still have to make some adjustments before we start cruising—locally for the first six months or so, then up to Fraser Island, Lady Musgrave and eventually, the Whitsundays. But yes, I think it’s perfect— perfect for us.” The Alaska 43 starts at $899,000. Contact Leigh-Smith Yachts at Sanctuary Cove for more details visit www.lsyachts.com.au.
New Motor Yachts
Fairline 62
Hampton 680 PH
Endurance 686
Alaska 47
Elandra 53
Brokerage Yacht Selection
2012 Endurance 72 Bluemoon $3,450,000
2011 Endurance 650 Lady Patrice $2,490,000
www.LSYachts.com.au 07 5577 9200
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2008 Hampton 68 Julkees $1,950,000
2016 43 Alaska Arriving Jan $899,000
42 Quay Street Sanctuary Cove, Qld sales@LSYachts.com.au
2013 Alaska 49 Aft Cabin $780,000
2006 Integrity 426 ES Flybridge $399,000
Steve Jenkins 0408 758 099
Peter Foster 0408 758 830
Dean Leigh-Smith 0408 758 887
Ryan Leigh-Smith 0408 758 886 43
BOAT FEATURE
W om en of GC B oating Women have become ver y active in recreational boating in many ways—whether as support crew or as skipper, or in a solo navigation of the world. On the Gold Coast, it is not a surprise to see more and more women at the helm or actively boating with family or friends, or even being in the business of boating. In this feature, we write about Gold Coast women whose passion for boating shows in their choice of career, business and lifestyle. All of them grew up in a boating environment, and have continued to live a life around boating. They love the outdoors, they love the water, they love boating, and they love the Gold Coast. These women exemplif y how this passion goes beyond age and gender.
CARLIE SIMON
Apprentice, Riviera Australia Pty. Ltd. A girl with big dreams in the boating industry, Carlie is currently an apprentice at Riviera Boats. She is very interested in the electrical field. “Electricity is one of the biggest things in the world—like magic,” she says. “So when the opportunity for an apprenticeship with Riviera Australia became available through school, it sounded like a great way for me to get into the industry.” Carlie enjoys boating with her friends. She is a fan of the Gold Coast waterways and believes that the city is a boating mecca. As a young child, Carlie has had the privilege to set foot at the Riviera factory. “As children we used to go to Riviera with Mum and Dad who would do deliveries on a regular basis,” she recalls. “We would get to admire the big, beautiful boats, and sometimes step aboard to inspect them on the marina. The people at Riviera have always been friendly and we loved coming here to the factory.” Carlie has chosen the boating industry to pursue a career. For her, the industry offers great people, great opportunity for a trade, and a terrific chance to work on the Gold Coast. Riviera has given her the prospect of continuing a career that deals with electrical systems in boats. “I am able to install the cutting-edge systems that make boating so much easier and more accessible for Riviera and Belize owners, and aspiring owners. Systems like C-Zone digital switching— that enable easy control and monitoring of on-board systems all in one place— greatly enhance owners’ time on board.” Being female in a generally male-dominated industry does not matter to Carlie. She does say that there are instances where being a female is an advantage. She explains, “It’s fair to say the males are more conscious of the way they speak in normal conversations around me. And this has to be positive for the workplace.
JESSICA WATSON OAM
Youngest person to sail non-stop unassisted around the world in 2010 at the age of 16 She is an inspiration to young aspiring sailors for achieving a sailing feat at the age of 16. She is a well-known personality around the sailing circles. And with so much ahead, her passion for sailing has not fizzled. Jessica showed unbelievable courage when she sailed around the world by herself, but she admits that sailing scared her when she started. “Mum and Dad sent me and my siblings along to the Southport Yacht Club to learn to sail when I was eight years old,” she recalls. “It surprises a lot of people to hear that I was scared of sailing in the early days, but I soon came to enjoy the challenge. I also wanted to be like my older sister who was a natural sailor.” Jessica’s love for boating and sailing continues to grow, as she pursues work that still involves these activities. “These days, I love sailing and boating more than ever! In addition to a great appreciation for wooden boats, I love to sail dinghies on the weekends, and I’m lucky to have mates with different kinds of boats all around the country. I have just started working with Deckee.com, a website that enables boat owners to review marine businesses and cruising locations.” 44
I believe females are more attentive to the smaller details and are a bit more clean and organised about the way they go about their work. Overall, though, both males and females suit this field.” Carlie’s goal is to continue and complete her apprenticeship with Riviera Australia, and to ultimately be involved in design. “I hope to become an electrical technician and to travel to many countries to assist in the service or maintenance of boat systems. Also, another aspiration is to one day be involved with the design the electrical layouts for Riviera Australia.” It may be a long journey, but Carlie is headstrong about what she wants. In the industry she works in, she understands the challenges. She advises other young people, “Do whatever you’re inspired to do, there’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like what you’re doing. Two years on since beginning my apprenticeship, I’m doing just as well as all the male apprentices in my workplace and I am really enjoying the journey.” For her, the sailing and boating communities are generous, down-to-earth, and full of interesting stories. She also believes that the word-of-mouth culture among boaties is still alive and well as there will always be people who are willing to share information on local conditions. The support of the boating and sailing communities that has been given her is also something that motivates her to give back. “The boating industry and community has been very supportive of my adventures, and I want to support and assist boaties and marine business owners. I want to see more people enjoying sailing, and I want to support some of the amazing local clubs and associations that form the backbone of Australian sailing.” Being a female sailor is not an issue with Jessica. When she was younger, she did feel that her gender affected how people treated her. She says, “When I was younger, I often felt overlooked as people didn’t expect a young girl to be experienced with boats. But overall I’ve had a really positive experience and gained a lot of support.” The advantages of having females in sailing and boating cannot be overstated. According to Jessica, “Girls bring a totally different attitude and skillset to sailing and boating. Provided everyone learns to work well together—and this can be a challenge—I believe that a team made up of both girls and guys will outperform single-gender teams. In other industries, it is well documented that gender diversity increases performance, and I can’t see why boating should be any different.” For young people who are interested, she has this to say: “I’ve always found that a shared interest in sailing is a great way to bring people of any gender together. If you love sailing and boating, it’s very easy to fit in.” Although she strongly believes that gender is not a factor in building a career or business in sailing or boating, she says that she actually worries for the guys. “This new generation of girls learning to sail and working in the marine industry is going to be a force to reckon with in the future.” FEB - APR 2016
BOAT FEATURE
HEIDI VAN WOERDEN
Owner and director, Gold Coast Marine Training (Runaway Bay) & freelance skipper As a small child, Heidi had her first sailing experience strapped in a baby pouch on her father’s chest. “My Dad was the skipper of the Maxi Yacht Apollo in the 1980’s and he took me on a sailing regatta in Sydney Harbour.” From then on, it was a life in boating that she would live. “Due to my parent’s involvement with competitive yacht racing, I had the privilege of being involved in boating throughout my upbringing,” Heidi explains. As soon as she graduated from high school, she decided to move north to work on commercial vessels to gain sea time. “By the time I was 22, I had my Master Class 5 and MED 3 licenses. So now, I also do some freelance skippering work on various vessels.” For Heidi, the Gold Coast has so much to offer for boaties. “There are so many places to visit by boat. Even when it is blowing up to 30 knots, there are still beautiful protected beaches and resorts to visit. I usually spend the day up at the beaches and dunes at Jumpinpin on the northern side of South Stradbroke Island, followed by some ice cold beverages at Tipplers or Couran Cove in the afternoon on the way home. You just can’t beat the Gold Coast weather!”
Being a woman in her choice of career, she does feel that gender discrimination still happens. “Unfortunately, this kind of thing still happens in this day and age every now and then. I always tried to use the discrimination and negativity of others to give me more motivation and determination to achieve my goals and prove the sceptics wrong.” And despite the occasional discrimination, she does see advantages of being a female skipper or crew. “I think females can make great skippers and crew on boats. Females can sometimes tend to be a little more cautious in their decision-making, which can help avoid getting into tricky situations at sea.” The boating industry can be very challenging and exciting, so Heidi very rarely gets bored at work. “The destinations you get to see are some of the most isolated and beautiful places on the Earth. There are always new things to learn working in the boating industry and you can never know it all, no matter how much experience you have. Constantly learning keeps your mind healthy and is important in the work place.” She is using her life experiences and her skills to be able to encourage other people to get into boating. Her advice for those interested to work in the industry: “To be confident, work hard, ask many questions and accumulate as much sea time as you can. You never do really well at anything in life unless you practice all the time. So keep at it. Don’t listen to anyone who thinks you can’t do it. Use their comments as extra motivation to prove them wrong and achieve your goals.” Heidi never wanted a life stuck indoors. She loves the outdoors and the ocean. So a life that involved the sea was the only thing she could see herself doing. And that is exactly what she is doing now—and sharing her passion through her business. “I really enjoy passing on my knowledge to others in the boat and Jet Ski licence courses, so they too can experience the benefits of spending time out on the water.”
NITSA KERR
Owner, Duffy Down Under, The Electric Boat Hire, Cruises and Sales From day one, her mantra has always been, “I am proud to be a woman on the water!” And everyday, Nitsa is on the water, experiencing the “the sun, the sea, fresh air, sunrises, sunsets, seeing the dolphins play, turtles, sea eagles” and it warms her heart to be with so much wildlife in and around the Gold Coast waterways. Nitsa grew up in a boating world. “At a very young age in California, we always had boats, both motor and sailing, I grew up in Corona del Mar, and we are surrounded by water like here [on the Gold Coast] actually. I grew up with Duffy Boats in Newport Beach, California, and when we moved to the Gold Coast, I saw the synergy between our two lifestyles. I saw the opportunity to have a work-life choice, and on the water to boot!” As an operator of a tourism business on the Gold Coast, she seeks to promote the waterways in a different way. Her electric boats are eco-friendly and userfriendly. “Just unplug them and go. No need for fuel or oil, and no ‘winterizing’— affordable at its finest. They aren’t just boats; they are a lifestyle that we simply can’t pass up. Our eco-friendly Duffy Boats are not intrusive to the environment or to those that live in our waterways.” While some women enjoy the adrenalin-rush of power boating and sailing, others prefer to have a relaxing time with friends and family along the calm waterways of the city. With Duffy Boats, Nitsa says, “They can sit back and relax with their girlfriends, with no noise, no fumes, without the worry if they can drive themselves.” And for her, as a woman, she understands there are advantages of knowing what women want. “My attitude is women know what women want—neat, tidy, comfortable way of boating, and I understand that.”
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In the business she is in, she admits that gender discrimination was expected when she was starting out. However, what matters is the goal of providing the best service and delivering it, and not the gender. “I know my product, I know what my customers want, and it pleases me to provide the best service for an affordable price. I put my head into my own business, not what others think.” And so, the gratification she experiences from the satisfaction and delight of her customers keeps her going headstrong and always delivering the best experience for them through her skills. “The joy my customers portray back to me keeps me going seven days a week, 365 days a year.” It is without hesitation though that Nitsa puts her confidence in women’s capacities to succeed in this industry. “Women are multi-taskers, and I think with all the life skills we have under our belt, we can apply this to all areas of boating. When you believe in something, remember the ‘woman force’ will be with you—‘You Go Girl’! Take that helm! I encourage more ladies to get out on the water. If you love the outdoors, the water, meeting people from all over the world, then what are you waiting for?”
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BOAT FEATURE
CORINNE JOHNSTON
while boating is to relax. “Being on the water is one of the most relaxing things I like to do. But I also enjoy fishing, crabbing, tubing and just hanging out with our family and friends.”
“It’s progressive, exciting and always changing.” This is how Corinne describes the marine industry. “The marine industry has always been on the top of my list of industries to work in.”
Her choice of career is a decision based on her love for boats, the challenge, working with products that are exclusive, brand recognition, and the people around her. “My colleagues and I—we are all working for the same end-goal. We have a great team and I love my job and the people I work with and for.”
Aftermarket coordinator, Riviera Australia Pty. Ltd.
As young as five or six years old, Corinne grew up boating. Her parents owned various ski boats while growing up. She is still actively boating these days. “My husband and I have owned several boats. The biggest was a 35’ Caribbean that we actively game-fished out of. We have since downgraded to a six-metre Haines Hunter trailer boat that we use as a family boat—for fishing, skiing, tubing and socialising.” Corinne enjoys boating every other weekend. “We are often up at Jumpinpin. Occasionally, we travel to Peel Island, depending on the weather and what we are going to do. We also head out to the 36’s fishing.” Her main objective
Corinne acknowledges that the industry is male-dominated, but this has only added to the challenge. “You have to earn people’s respect and trust,” she states. “I was lucky that I had been around boats for a lot of years, so I guess I had an advantage over those who didn’t know the difference between the bow and stern.” Despite the challenges of being a female, Corinne is taking it all positively. “The gap is definitely closing, but our male counterparts are still considered to know more, and in some cases they do. I believe the biggest advantage of being female in this industry is the ability I have to converse with our client’s wives or partners to explain things to them in a way they would understand, making them feel comfortable and at ease.” To the others who aspire to be in the boating industry, Corinne has this advice: “Take the jump. This industry is exciting, prestigious, is ever-changing, making it challenging, and there is never a dull moment. Being around boats sometimes feels like you are on a holiday—but in fact you are working.”
KERYN SPRIGGS Boat broker, Ensign Ship Brokers (Gold Coast) There are people who are used to seeing more men involved in the business of boating than women. Keryn says that gender discrimination is not something that affects her industry. She does encounter, however, some surprised reactions when people realise that she is a boat broker. “Occasionally, people are a bit surprised I’m a broker or mistake me for working in administration or promotions. However, this is more related to people being used to the industry as it has been over time, having more men than women involved, and not really about gender. I will say the clients I’ve worked with are most interested in the boat and the process.” Keryn started boating very early in her life. As a toddler, she went out boating and fishing with family. “When I was around seven, my dad got the old Carrara Ski School to make me a special small pair of skis which I loved. We enjoyed taking our boats up to the Whitsundays to go fishing and snorkeling in the summer holidays with our friends. Ever since, I have loved being on and around the water.” The connection with the ocean and nature through boating is something that gives Keryn an experience of calmness, empowerment and enjoyment. Further, it was boating that brought her and her partner together. She still actively goes out boating at least once a week. “It varies a bit with weather and business commitments. I usually get out at least once a week. I go twilight sailing through Southport Yacht Club on Thursday nights, I ride the Jet Ski, I go away for a weekend on the boat, day boating or wake boarding with friends. My partner and I go boating whenever we have a chance and love it.” Her professional life also requires her being on and around boats every day. Her work involves driving boats for Sea Trial and Survey. “I value the satisfaction of facilitating the sale process and seeing a happy seller and happy and excited
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buyer pursuing their own dreams for their lifestyle.” Being a woman in her line of work may have advantages too, and Keryn says, “I think a different perspective helps. Personally, I think my strengths are in negotiating well for other people to get everyone the best outcome, attention to detail, being organised and a genuine love of people.” The connection among people who are passionate about boating is something that she builds on in her career. “I do feel a connection with the people who love boating and enjoy working with them and helping them to realize their boating lifestyle dreams. I want to help make the buying and selling process as seamless as possible so people can fully enjoy the boating lifestyle. Having grown up boating and being involved in boating actively, I feel there is an authentic reference point when I am talking to customers.” In a traditionally male-dominated industry, Keryn does not see a lot of resistance from people to change it. Beyond gender differences, Keryn firmly believes that in her chosen field, “It really is about being good at working with people.”
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT EVENTS
FREESTYLE BOATING DESTINATIONS By R.T. Soler
he sky was dotted with a few clouds. Weather T forecast was 25 degrees Celsius. High tide at mid-day. Wind speed probably less than 13 knots. All was looking good. We were heading out to a teppanyaki lunch at Horizon Shores Marina in Woongoolba. Free berth for those who come by boat or a free road shuttle pick-up and return for locals within a 20km radius with bookings.
It is not often that an event on the Gold Coast offers activities that are convenient for boaties. After all, when a boatie is invited to an event that may be at a waterfront venue, the first question normally asked is: Is there free public berthing?
Teppanyaki and Tunes by the Water event organiser, Hayley Taylor of Free Style Function, says, “I am doing this to encourage more eventdestinations for boaties, and to encourage people to use their boats to dine or to attend social events, independent of social clubs or associations.”
Aside from the usual escape into the serenity of nature—sun, sea, sand, wind and wildlife—boaties on the Gold Coast also seek some destination that offer something different. There are a few places around the city where they can shop and dine—at waterfront shopping centres and well established marinas—but occasionally, they probably just want something different.
We arrive at the marina, found a vacant berthing, and tied off our boat while another boat was off loading its passengers who had also booked for the seven-course teppanyaki lunch. Many of the guests enjoyed the trip to Horizon Shores by boat, and equally enjoyed the entertainment provided by the live soulful music as well as the teppanyaki chef’s cooking antics. The outdoor setting overlooking the marina, complete with a marquee and portable teppanyaki barbecue plate, made the event very unique and memorable.
In 2015, the Glow Festival held at the Evandale Lake offered the Gold Coast’s first “float-in” cinema, where boaties were able to watch Pirates of the Carribean from the comforts of their own boasts. The event also offered free ferry transport from Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise to the Evandale pontoon and back. The ferry proved very popular giving an opportunity for people to appreciate the waterways in a different way by transporting people to a destination of interest.
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Teppanyaki and Tunes by the Water
The outdoor venue for our teppanyaki lunch on that day became a dining destination for boaties for a few hours, and provided a different kind of boating experience. Sure, we all have our picnic spots and our favourite beach spots on the Gold Coast islands. But there are times, you just want to enjoy arriving by boat, tie it off on a pontoon, walk on dry land, have an outdoor dining experience while being entertained with live music, and not be bothered with packing food and picnic equipment or getting your feet wet or sandy. Hayley organises similar events accessible by boats with the convenience of free berthing on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. For more information visit www.freestylefunctions.com.au.
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BOAT ENVIRONMENT
OCEAN CLEAN-UP WHY IT’S IMPORTANT By Roselle Tenefrancia
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e all know that 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water. Boaties actually have such a privilege to be able to experience the wonders of our seas, oceans and our waterways. What it means to people and wildlife cannot be underestimated or be taken for granted. There are many groups that support clean waters and clean environment worldwide. The Gold Coast is also home to several groups that promote environmental awareness and proactive approach to keeping our environment clean. Two couples from the Whitsundays, though, have special stories about their own organised campaigns to keep our beaches and waters clean. Their stories and insights may not be one-of-a-kind, but both couples share a thing or two that boaties may appreciate and be able to share with others.
BOATING TO SAVE THE OCEANS: IAN THOMSON AND ANNIKA FREDRIKSSON, Ocean Crusaders
Ian Thomson is known for setting the world record in the fastest solo circumnavigation of Australia. His motivation for sailing came first from his love of windsurfing. He owned his first boat to run windsurfing and kite surfing tours. In his work running sailing and diving charters in the Whitsundays, he kept finding dead turtles. He took them in for autopsy to find the reason. “One was found to have a plastic bag stuck perfectly in its stomach and inside the bag were 12 cigarette butts, a plastic bottle cap and half of a coke can, along with sea grass and corals. To look into the eye of a dead sea turtle is heart breaking. To find out it was because of what we call a convenient item, made me mad.” One night, while watching the movie Waterworld, Ian had an epiphany. “The thought came that I could sail around Australia and raise awareness of 48
the issue of plastic bags. I formed Save Our Seas Ocean Racing and did what I do best—sailed to make a difference. I’m not a scientist so sailing was the best medium.” The rest, as they say, is history.
He achieved his goal not without adverse challenges. But setting the record was not his main goal. “On completing the mission, it gave me a sense of achievement like no other. The world record didn’t mean that much to me but the profile it created set me up to develop Ocean Crusaders and visit schools, educating our youth of the issues our oceans are facing.” Education of the youth is his primary advocacy. “I feel that teaching our youth is the best way to change our future. I have a vision of children shopping with their parents and at the checkout tugging at their parent’s leg saying, ‘Don’t use plastic bags. They kill turtles!’ There are a lot of ‘clean-up’ organisations out there but I strongly believe that prevention is better than a cure. This is what we teach. Change your habits and you can make a difference. Every bag you say no to counts. It could save a turtle’s life.” Ian and Annika created the Plastics of the Pacific campaign to address the growing problem of accumulating plastic in the Pacific Ocean. The world’s oceans have five massive gyres—networks of currents that circulate around the world—and one of which is the Southern Pacific Gyre, the one closest to Australia.
“In the 2008 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, while on board Rudy Weber’s Too Impetuous, we let go of a message in a bottle,” Ian recalls. “Two and half years later, that bottle was found at Easter time on Lady Elliot Island. The boat was racing in the Brisbane to Gladstone at the time. Amazing coincidence! But if you understand the ocean currents, then you will question how it got there. The East Coast current is south-bound. There is no way possible it could just go up the coast. It would have done a full lap of the South Pacific.” For Ian and Annika, both skippers and divers, the experience with the message in the bottle brought about many questions about how plastics are disposed of in first world-countries such as Australia, and how plastics are being used and disposed of on island states that do not have recycling facilities. “Educating remote communities is essential so they know the impact it will have on their very existence.
After all, the people on islands rely on seafood a lot.” They conduct their campaigns through education programs that they have made from documenting their travels on their recently acquired boat, a 2001 Dufour GS43. “This boat is perfect for what we need. It is big enough for all the gear, can still take guests and will hopefully be easy to sell when we get her back to Australia next year. If we can’t sell it, we will live on it. It doesn’t bother us either way. We chose this particular boat because of the layout. The fourth convertible cabin is perfect to store gear in and the twin helms allow us to access swim platform easily.” Ian and Annika are starting their entry into the Pacific Ocean through South America, having purchased their boat in Croatia. They have come a long way from racing yachts to living a life exclusively devoted to the ocean. And their message is clear: “Clean oceans make us all winners!” FEB - APR 2016
CLEANING UP 15 MINUTES AT A TIME: DYLAN KUIPERSMITH AND KIM OLSSON, Crowd Clean World
The concept is simple: spend at least fifteen minutes a week picking up litter wherever you are. And as an incentive, post a simple artwork from the litter on Facebook and tag Crowd Clean World. “The idea started in 2014 while travelling in Spain and Myanmar,” Dylan recalls. “I was finding travel a little unfulfilling at the time and was looking for a way to contribute back to the countries I was visiting. I’ve travelled through lots of countries where litter is a problem, so this was an obvious way I could help.” Dylan and Kim spend 10 to 20 minutes once a week cleaning litter, preferably while doing something else such as jogging or walking somewhere. “We do clean-ups both alone and with friends—and spread the idea slowly to people who are interested and want to help. How do we continue? We just do it regularly, and tell others so they can help too.” Crowd Clean World subscribes to the idea that the world can work together to keep our earth clean. While the earth needs a massive clean-up job, Athe concept of crowd sourcing can make it manageable and within reach. Dylan explains, “When one million
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people incorporate 15 minutes picking up litter per week, while doing something else, one million small clean-ups are completed worldwide without anyone having to sacrifice time solely for cleaning.” With so much education on how litter affects our world, there are still people who are not concerned about cleaning up. Dylan says that even the educated who do not litter may just walk past rubbish without picking it up. Taking the moment to pick up litter improves awareness of how much rubbish there is, and that awareness can move on to the consciousness of not creating it. Social media is not just a popular medium of communication, but is already part of our daily life. And if we use it for effecting change, it is something that can improve our lives—and our environment, as Dylan and Kim believe through their Facebook page.
TIPS FOR BOATIES 1. If you see rubbish on a beach or floating on the water, pick it up. Do not leave it for some unsuspecting marine animal or bird to put in their mouths. Take time to observe what is floating on the waters, and have a small net handy to pick up rubbish. 2. When shopping for your boat, consider items that are not wrapped in plastic. 3. Buy reusable water bottles and avoid plastic water bottles. Water in plastic contains toxins that are not good for you and creates a lot of debris. 4. Avoid having plastic bags on board. They are lightweight and blow away in the wind easily, and can lead to marine deaths. 5. Dispose of cigarette butts responsibly. Keep a small tin to place butts in. Do not throw overboard. 6. Practise responsible fishing. Dispose of lines and nets responsibly and be aware of marine life that you may accidentally catch.
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BOAT ENVIRONMENT
DREDGING 101 UNDERSTANDING DREDGING ACTIVITIES ON THE GOLD COAST By Patrick Molnar
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he Gold Coast is undoubtedly one of Australia’s unique and most liveable cities, with more than 300 sunny days per year. It can be even called as ‘The City of Canals’, since extensive navigable waterways are stretching around the city. There is a significant and rapid increase that can be observed in recreational boating activity on these waterways and the maintenance of these channels is essential to provide a safe and enjoyable access for boaties. One of the most important segments of maintenance is dredging, carried out by the City of Gold Coast and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA). Dredging is an excavation activity of moving underwater material such as sand or other sediment types to a different location. By doing so, waterways channels and harbours can be artificially deepened and widened. This technique involves using machinery to address a variety of issues including navigation safety, flood mitigation, legislative requirements to maintain canals, and foreshore nourishment. The process of dredging ensures that the Gold Coast waterways are navigable for craft. Channels easily become narrow or too shallow to navigate as a result of build-up of sediment, and tidal and weather conditions. Dredging also has significant benefits in flood prevention. By increasing the channel depth, the channel’s capacity for carrying water increases. As more than 90 percent of the sediment collected from navigation dredging is natural and undisturbed, the deposits can be used to create and restore habitats. This can also assist in offsetting the effects of erosion which is a significant problem on the Gold Coast.
TYPES OF DREDGING There are three types of dredging conducted on the Gold Coast. The most common type is called the ‘cutter suction dredge’ that relies on a stationary vessel, with a cutter head that is moved across the bottom, sucking up sand and then delivering it through a pipeline, typically to an adjacent foreshore. “The cutter suction dredge is the most common, reflecting its advantages for the dredging 50
needs that are typical for our local waterways,” explains Brian McRae, strategy manager at GCWA. The second type is called the ‘trailer suction hopper dredge’, where the vessel movement is responsible for translating the suction arm along the bottom, and the material goes into the hold of the ship. This type of dredge can shuttle the dredged material to a relatively longer distance and can be used in open ocean environments where ‘cutter suction dredge’ cannot operate. It cannot easily deliver the material to shore in the way that ‘cutter suction dredge’ can, but offshore nourishment can be as effective and there are other ways to get the material directly to the shore.
Dredging the Broadwater
The third type of dredge is usually a ‘bucket’ or ‘grab’ dredge that can be very useful when the water’s bottom consists of hard material, such as gravel.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS “The City of Gold Coast and the GCWA have jointly produced a document called the Sand Management Plan for Gold Coast Waterways that provides a plan to holistically manage sand resources, addressing both navigational access and foreshore management,” shares McRae. “A clear principle of the Sand Management Plan is to maximise the benefits by coordinating channel and foreshore maintenance needs,” expounds McRae. “Sand management—dredging and nourishment— are a key component of the management of our waterways to support resident, visitor and industry use and enjoyment of the estuarine environment that lies between the hinterland and the ocean beaches.”
The economic benefits of dredging depend on the purpose of dredging. “Dredging may include a flood mitigation purpose, legislative responsibilities together with visual amenity, and erosion prevention purposes,” according to the City of Gold Coast spokesperson. Inevitably, significant processes such as dredging activities do cost money. That is the price that has to be paid to live in a built environment and altered natural systems. It is also important to note that marine environment presents challenges in terms of both logistics—working underwater—and environmental management. “The good news is that prudent management can address all three issues—defray cost, simplify logistics, and mitigate environmental concerns— and that’s another key objective of the Sand Management Plan,” explains McRae. Direct effects from dredging, indirect effects associated with sediment plumes, and management of the dredged material can have impacts on the environment. The City spokesperson says, “All dredging approvals provided by State Authorities come with strict environmental conditions that must be complied with the dredging operator. These strict conditions ensure that minimal impact to the environment occurs.” “In the case of dredging the navigation channel, GCWA seeks to follow, rather than fight nature, realigning the marked channel to mirror migration of the natural channel. This reduces the need for dredging, and therefore the cost as well,” adds McRae. Regarding the environmental assessments for dredging, the City of Gold Coast and GCWA have partnered with regulatory agencies under the Sand Management Plan to create an Environmental Management Framework that facilitates consideration of the entire ecosystem. “Historically, each dredging project was assessed in isolation. An Agency Steering Committee has been established to coordinate project-level approvals. A Scientific Advisory Committee has also been created to progress strategic initiatives, such as the recent marine plant survey—the first such waterways-wide effort to characterise this important ecosystem on the Gold Coast,” says McRae. FEB - APR 2016
CITY-WIDE DREDGING ACTIVITIES
of an acceptable visual amenity. The City of Gold Coast is also responsible to monitor and maintain artificial waterways, such as canals and lakes as close to their original design as possible under the Coastal Protection Management Act of 1995.
“Nourishing adjacent foreshores is a preferred strategy under the Sand Management Plan, as it provides recreational amenity, is a sustainable option of protecting foreshore infrastructure such as storm drains and revetment. By minimising transport distances, it also reduces the expense of dredging,” states McRae. Although nourishing foreshores is a preferred option to utilise dredged material, it is not always a viable option. Dredging the Broadwater, Coomera River, Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks requires different approaches of dredging. Foreshore nourishment is the preferred choice of managing dredged material at the Broadwater, where marine sand is characterised as good and clean. However, it is challenging to the northern region where the nourishment is prohibited because of the extensive Broadwater-Jumpinpin fish habitat area. McRae says that nourishment can potentially be used to enhance long-term habitat outcomes. “It isn’t necessarily detrimental, but we need to progress the scientific investigations to improve our understanding of the options.” The Coomera River has marine sands on the lower end, but very fine material, such as silt content, further upstream requiring a land-based management option under current environmental regulations. “Planning has been underway for some time for a regional solution and GCWA is now progressing approvals for a permanent rehandling facility in the Coomera Marine Precinct,” affirms McRae. Dredging activities at Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks address flood problems and enhance ocean beaches. According to the City spokesperson, “In conjunction with managing the maintenance dredging of artificial waterways, the City alsoAFloat completes annual dredging campaigns Half Page Advert Oct 2015.ai 1 16/10/2015 10:32:50 AM of Currumbin and Tallebudgera Creek for flood-
Tallebudgera Creek dredging
mitigation purposes and to assist with the nourishment of adjacent ocean beach profiles. The City has also undertaken historical dredging works to re-establish beach profiles after periods of heavy erosion.” These activities provide navigational access benefits for boaties. However, the key potential navigational hazard is that the dredging footprint does not address shoaling near the entrances. “GCWA recognises this issue and supports education about the hazards of coastal bar crossing, but maintains the view that dredging is not a feasible solution in the highly active coastal environment. The Sand Bypass System was designed and built specifically as an alternative to the problems associated with dredging coastal entrances,” declares McRae.
“Presently within the Gold Coast City, there is in excess of 600 kilometres of waterfront properties, 220 kilometres comprised of lake or canal frontage and 400 kilometres of public and private revetment walls. The responsibility for private revetment walls rests with the respective property owner. Waterfront property owners are encouraged to seek professional engineering advice on the structural adequacy of their revetment wall and whether any maintenance or structural works are required to maintain it,” advises the City spokesperson. Dredging is vital to social and economic development. Boating activities on the Gold Coast are booming at the moment. Eleven percent of Queensland’s recreational boats are located here, and according to the latest data, there are more than 28,000 recreational boats and almost 700 commercial vessels registered on the Gold Coast. Dredging of our waterways is an essential element of maintenance to keep these waterways safe.
CANAL DREDGING Numerous waterfront properties can be found around the Gold Coast, and the City is regularly carrying out the dredging on a three-year cycle to pump sand back up against the retaining and revetment walls, if necessary. A healthy canal profile provides a stable foreshore with the benefit
Dredger at Southport
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BOAT GOLD COAST
CANAL WALLS ARE PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY Signs and Symptoms Greg Sweetman, owner of Gold Coast Barges says, ‘Firstly, the wall owner needs to regularly attend to visual inspections and act quickly when changes are evident. Cracking, widening of cracks and subsidence on your property behind the wall are signs of problems arising. If caught early, walls can be corrected. Preventative maintenance is key in canal wall health.’
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t is Your Legal Obligation. Owners of waterfront properties are legally responsible for the care and maintenance of their own canal walls. This change of law in the majority of local councils has been in place for several years. Despite this, most owners are unaware of this obligation and the requirement by law to ensure their wall is serviceable.
Exposed Toe: When a wall is built, it is engineered to withstand tide and flood. The base of the wall is engineered to be covered and supported. Over time the toe of the wall can be uncovered and this can destabilise the wall, causing leaning and twisting. This causes cracks to occur, and the wall may slump and eventually will fall over.
Concrete spalling or concrete cancer: This occurs when saltwater causes corrosion of the steel reinforcing inside the wall. Sometimes this is due to poor construction—where the steel was too close to the surface—and the steel has been affected early by the salt being absorbed into the concrete. Since 2013, buyers and sellers of waterfront property Sometimes, it occurs when saltwater penetrates through hairline cracks in the concrete. As the steel on the Gold Coast have been subject to Local corrodes, it expands and causes the surrounding Law 17. Under this law, a contract of sale involving concrete to crack. In bad cases, the concrete falls any property that has ‘prescribed work’, such as away further exposing the steel and exacerbating the a revetment wall, jetty or pontoon, must have a particular clause that includes a disclosure obligation problem. This can be corrected if detected early. specifying certain matters about the operation Deterioration of Construction Joints: Revetment of the Local Law. If the contract does not contain walls are built with construction joints to allow such clause, the buyer may be able to terminate the them to expand contract and obtain a refund. Further, the Local Law and shrink with requires the responsible person for the specified temperature prescribed work to maintain and keep the specified changes. Usually, prescribed work in a safe condition, and of good these joints are working order, repair and condition. A responsible sealed with a person includes a person who owns the property on rubber material to which a prescribed work is located or who receives prevent water and the benefit of the prescribed work. soil from being lost What’s the Big Deal? through them.Over time, the rubber When walls fail, the expense in removing and deteriorates, replacing them can hit the pocket hard. Sadly, unsuspecting owners can wake up to a fallen wall especially below and wonder how this could even happen, being the high tide completely blindsided to the potential financial line. (Crabs seem to love it!) When the rubber burden they have now placed themselves under. deteriorates, sand and soil can be lost through the joint causing subsidence behind the wall. All walls age and deteriorate. With maintenance and repair, the wall’s life can be extended and kept Blocked and Failing Weepholes: Weepholes are viable for many years. designed to allow water to flow from behind the wall relieving pressure. Over time, these block and The symptoms and signs of wall failure and wall aging are clear. Know the symptoms, monitor the prevent water from escaping putting pressure on wall and save yourself the heartache. the wall from behind. Ongoing maintenance of
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weepholes is required for the wall to remain healthy. Weepholes should have a geotextile fabric (geofabric) behind them which allows water through, but prevents washing out of the sand and soil. Many walls have been poorly built without this protective feature.Also, early forms of geotextile fabric had a limited lifespan particularly in the marine environment. In many cases, the fabric has deteriorated and is now letting soil through. This is an issue which requires regular maintenance and vigilance. Subsidence: When material is lost from behind the wall, subsidence occurs. This is very obvious when grass slumps, fences become uneven, concrete and paving become uneven or crack. The concrete pathway behind your wall may be concealing a very big problem. Pools and retaining walls on your property close to the revetment wall may crack or move long before the revetment wall fails. Subsidence is a wakeup call for owners of canal walls. The wall is no longer adequately protecting the property. In the photo above, the geofilter behind the wall has failed allowing the material from behind the wall (sand and gravel) to escape through the weephole. Overtime this will cause subsidence. Recognising the need for a team dedicated to ensuring the health of canal walls in South East Queensland, Gold Coast Barges have deployed, ‘The Canal Wall Doctor’. This team specifically target the maintenance and ongoing checking of canal wall health. Greg Sweetman says, ‘We can take the worry out of canal wall ownership. The pairing of The Canal Wall Doctor and Gold Coast Barges gives the canal wall owner a comprehensive care package. Gold Coast Barges provide the support when the wall needs ‘intensive care’ to sort the big issues and the Canal Wall Doctor attends to the maintenance and health check-up every year to ensure your wall, though aging is monitored, maintained and functional.” Gold Coast Barges will protect your wall with qualified inspections, reports, repairs and maintenance. Ph: 0427949163 www.canalwalldoctor.com.au
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT HEALTH
THE EXPERIENCE OF ZEN ON THE SUP By Tina Francia
T
he SUP craze is here to stay for sure. Inshore or offshore, the opportunities for SUP is boundless. While SUP has gained popularity on the Gold Coast and beyond, there are still unique offerings that can make the SUP experience a bit more different.
THE MASTER OF SUP TAI CHI
Brad Holmes trained at the Australian Academy of Tai Chi Qigong (pronounced chi-gong) in 1991. He has been a believer of Chinese medicine and holistic body treatment since the 80s when he learned accupuncture, so training for Tai Chi Qigong is something that came naturally for him. Brad explains, “Tai Chi means to get back in the balance. Qigong means ‘energy work’. So, Tai Chi and Qigong is the balance of work and energy. It is a light and gentle exercise and very easy to remember.” In 2004, he began getting into SUP. He was already a surfing instructor and so he started teaching SUP as well. He has been teaching Tai Chi and Qigong since 2005. He has then integrated Tai Chi with SUP and still continues to offer the program.
THE GIRLS GIVE IT A TRY
So here we are, three mums, having had a go at SUP once or twice before, deciding to meet the SUP-TaiChi master at Budds Beach on an early Friday morning. Brad gives us a briefing about SUP, and then lets us have about 15 minutes getting familiar with our SUP boards and paddles, and paddling on our own on
the Nerang River. We start with knee paddling first, and then we move on to standing up. Brad only uses soft-safety boards for SUP to ensure that any danger or risk of injury in case of an accident is avoided. We are lucky that the boaties are very courteous, and really avoid making a lot of wake as we paddle along, trying to get the confidence up. Brad keeps on encouraging us, “Don’t think about it too much. Just flow with the water. If you fight against water, it fights against you. And always be loose, agile and flexible.” He also reminds us to keep knees bent and relaxed, and to keep looking ahead and not on the board. Once we have more confidence on the board, it is time to be introduced to TaiChi. Brad shows us the movements while we are standing on the beach. We are to do the “lotus position” on the SUP board. With knees bent and steady, our arms and upper body do all the gentle exercises. And then, we are ready for the Tai Chi on board! We all paddle out away from the beach. Then, Brad asks us to place our paddles on our boards between our feet. With knees slightly bent and the board slowly rocking with the soft waves, we all get into the moment, and do the “lotus” exercises gently without as much thought that we are floating on the river. Our boards are moving where the water was taking us. And as we continue to the exercises, we let go of our thoughts and fears of falling off our board.
The slow movement of our boards underneath our feet creates a challenge in conducting the “lotus” exercises, but as we keep repeating the exercises, not mindful where our boards are taking us, we are taken into a natural sense of calm and balance— which is what Tai Chi is all about.
ANYONE CAN DO SUP TAI CHI Brad shares that some of his clients do not know how to swim. So he encourages knee-paddling first. And when they get more confident, they easily learn how to stand up. Tai Chi is also a form of preventative therapy. “It calms the breath, calms the heart and focuses the mind,” explains Brad. He also says that one does not need to be fit to be able to do SUP or SUP Tai Chi. “At least 50 percent of my clients are not physically active. I do tailor the sessions to my client’s personal needs and wants.” Brad offers SUP coaching on Budds Beach every day. He is patient and is calm with his students and ensures that the experience is always something special. “As a teacher, I am always a student, because every student I teach, teaches me a new and different way of how to teach the next one.” Brad Holmes Surf Coaching 07 5539 4068, 0418757539 www.bradholmessurfcoaching.com Services offered: Surfing Lessons, SUP, SUP-TaiChi, TaiChi, PWD
MARINE MAPS
PH 0432 710 892 BOATGOLDCOAST.COM. AU
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BOAT TECHNOLOGY
RECREATIONAL BOATS FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE
Even the best constructed boats have to end their lives someday. But when this day comes, what happens to your beloved sailing or motoring beauty? JULIET SALTMARSH suggests that the impact of method of disposal be considered in light of its environmental consequences. Interviews by R. Tenefrancia
T
raditionally, old timber or steel boats would float up a creek and degrade over time, or become an old shipwreck. These days there is an oversupply of typically small crafts and large boats manufactured out of fibreglass since its introduction in the 1950s. Fibreglass was picked as the material of choice over wood and steel for commercial and recreational boats due to its short term benefits, e.g. a reduction in maintenance with no painting required (easy to patch leakages) and good mechanical strength and stiffness for its weight. Fibreglass meant a change from labour intensive methods to a faster system that required a less-skilled workforce and a dependence on imported materials. This meant parts were not as easily reused or recycled like other boat-building materials (e.g. wood, aluminium, steel) leading to an oversupply of second-hand boats. Fibreglass boats can have a typical lifespan of up to 40 years, but are often difficult and expensive to repair, unlike materials such as wood which can last a lifetime but need regular maintenance and replacement of beams to stop rotting. Boatbuilding materials such as aluminium are strong, lightweight, can be recycled indefinitely, and use only four to six percent of the energy needed compared to making ‘new’ aluminium from scrap. Steel is also extremely long lasting with regular maintenance to stop corrosion. Most thermoplastics can also be recycled although they are often degraded reducing their quality.
END OF LIFE BOATS The concept of “end of life” (EOL) for vehicles, referred to as ELV, was introduced in Europe in 1975 when the European Union came up with the Waste Framework Directive, which was later on amended in 1991. Under the Directive, it is primarily the customer’s will which designates a given vehicle an end-of-life vehicle. But it may also be dictated by the condition it is in. The concept of EOL for vehicles 54
was presented in the context of waste management and materials recovery processes. In recent years, the concept of EOL for boats, referred to as ELB, has also been introduced in Europe, in similar contexts as the ELV. Way back in 1988, the Norwegian Marine Federation already asked the question, “For how long will [boats] last and what about decommissioning?” The boats they are referring to are mostly boat hulls made of Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP), or simply fibreglass. In Australia, the same question can be asked of our boats. But as EOL is not yet defined in any government (state or federal) policy, a mandate for boat disposal is also not yet defined. On the Gold Coast, we can say that one out of 20 owns a boat. So eventually, these boats will exchange hands again, and ultimately reach its EOL. “One of the complications we have is there is no defined ‘end-of-life’ of a boat which would mandate any action being taken to dispose of such,” explains BIAA General Manager Nik Parker. “One man’s battered old boat is another’s dream restoration. If a boat remains in registration, no matter the state of repair—so long as it floats, I guess—then it’s not considered derelict or subject to an end-of-life determination. Telling someone their boat is too old and needs to be destroyed is not possible.” In a recent conference in Europe, the European Boating Industry presented the problem of ELBs. ELBs are determined by the boat’s lack of resale value, lack of disposal solutions, no more interest or capacity to go boating, financial difficulties. At its EOL, a boat may be resold or reused, refurbished or restored, recycled, or disposed of in landfills. What the European countries are focusing on is the minimisation of waste in the process of managing the ELB problem—hence, the focus on recycling.
DISPOSAL OPTIONS Whether it is during planning and construction, refurbishment or decommissioning your boat, waste minimisation should always be considered. Labour costs are often uneconomical, so obtaining secondhand parts or re-using old ones and DIY can be a good option. Repairs are often energy demanding and can create environmental pollution, with a demand for new materials to improve the craft or simply energy usage from maintenance improvement.
Second-hand boats are more often recycled through ownership over time. As boats get older and engines become more efficient, there is an increase in boat owners wanting to trade and modify existing designs creating ‘vintage’ boats. This opens up a niche market for the sale of second-hand boats because realistically, boats are often only recycled out of necessity. An example: Commercial boats are sent to Bangladesh to be dismantled by ship breakers and the necessary parts sold or recycled into new products. In Australia, there is no specific legislation, code of practice or policy that outlines the exact process for the decommissioning of recreational vessels. “We are not aware of any policy or regulation of any state or federal agency that requires recycling of recreational boats,” states Nik Parker. Commercial boats are maintained through different standards in different countries and the decommission process is judged upon a case-by-case basis. Crafts differ hugely in size (dimension and weight) and constituents (hull, deck, equipment, superstructure, equipment,interiors). The recycling value of the parts after decommission will also depend on the way the craft is put together (strip coldmoulded, electronic sheathed), the size of the engine, and electronic systems will also affect its resale value. In Europe, Willem Dekker from the European Boating Association has called the marine industry to develop ELB strategies and stimulate economic operators to set up systems for collection, treatment and recovery of fibreglass boats. He believes that the last owner is not the richest so he cannot be expected to pay for disposal, and that scrapping is part of the marine industry’s responsibility. Often boats have often been abandoned or changed ownership several times throughout their lives, and it can be difficult to track down the owner. Identification numbers are often missing leaving the craft anonymous, and once tracked down it can be a challenging task of bringing it to a recycling dealer, or paying the removal fee. Locally, the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) has the mandate to seize and dispose of certain vessels. “We seize vessels for one of two reasons—either they are derelict (i.e. abandoned and deemed to be of no value) or for non-compliance with anchoring legislation FEB - APR 2016
(not necessarily abandoned, and may or may not be of value).” Without any specific disposal guidelines, GCWA can only request the salvage companies to dispose of these vessels responsibly. “We request through the tender process that salvage companies ensure that all vessels be responsibly disposed of through the local council commercial refuse stations where recycling takes place. The sale of and disposal of abandoned property is governed by the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority Act 2012.”
RECYCLING OF FIBREGLASS Fibreglass is often difficult to dispose of sustainably due to the hazardous dust and fibres produced during grinding/shredding or burning processes. Some standards have been put in place to minimise this risk, e.g. pure materials are recovered by grinding cured laminate into ‘recylate’ which produces a new material when mixed with resins. A popular option to dispose of fibreglass is to cut it up into pieces and dump it in landfill. This is a short-term solution that will most likely be restricted in the future.
Other methods of disposal include energy recovery by the conversion of waste to energy by incineration, waste can be significantly reduced but guidelines must be followed as it can produce toxic emissions. Japan Marine Industry Association (JMIA) adopted a fibreglass boat recycling program and began collecting ELBs in 2005. The recycling program is voluntary and is not mandated by specific recycling laws. But the JMIA commits to the program to carry out the corporate social responsibility (CSR) based on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle. From 2005 until March 2015, more than 6,000 units have already been treated. According to Brian Clark of JMIA, the success of the program can be seen in high recycling rates with few wastes, that is, only 12 to 13 percent of the total weight goes to the landfill. Examples of recycling fees: Cabin Boat >6m = 55,000 Yen (around US$620); Cabin boat >10 m <11m = 202,000 Yen (around US$2,260). It is no surprise that cheap dismantling (higher landfill rate) is still preferred by most users, and this remains a challenge for JMIA. In 2009, the French Nautical Industries Federation created Association pour la Plaisance EcoResponsable (APER), a not-for-profit organisation, one of the objectives of which is to propose an ecological and economical solution for recreational craft dismantling. “France is the first European country to adopt a genuine organised recycling and dismantling network for boats,” according to Pierre Barbleu of APER. “Since 2009, some 4,000 boats were disposed by APER in France.” Other European countries are working on programs for boat recycling. According to Mirna Cieniewicz of the European Boating Industry, there is currently
a fleet of seven million boats in Europe, and 95 percent of them are made of fibreglass. Finland has been working on a scheme since 2005, with an average of 250 boats recycled per year. Sweden is aiming to dismantle about 2,000 to 3,000 boats per year. Italy, Spain, UK and Norway are also moving towards organising programs on boat recycling. Although Australia does not have a specific policy related to boat recycling, there are other waste management programs in place that can be applied to ELBs. “Certainly, it is in industry’s interests to ensure we don’t create a mountain of old, unused boats, but we are equally clear that any additional regulatory-based cost or complication of owning and using a boat should be minimised,” states Parker. Modern composite vessels are typically highly durable, and disposal so far has not been as issue in Australia. There will come a time when these boats reach the ends of their lives. By then, who will pay for the cleaning up of the beaches and the seabed when all of these boats have come to rest?
SEA PEN AND FLOATBRICKS KEEP YOUR BOAT OUT OF THE WATER BUT READY TO GO in 2004, with the first sales going to local Gold Coast people. Although there have been many improvements along the way, the earlymodel Sea Pens are still in operation today, over 11 years later.
re you sick of barnacles on your boat? And A what if you never had to anti-foul again? Well, the reality is that you do not have to. The
Sea Pen will keep your boat’s hull clean and barnacle-free! And there is a Sea Pen suitable for every type of vessel from 5m to 30m. Local company Dockpro have become one of the success stories of the Gold Coast marine industry with its Sea Pen and FloatBricks product lines.
The Sea Pen is the world leader in water-level dry-docking technology and is a patented Australian-designed product that is also manufacturedin the Gold Coast Marine Precinct at Coomera. Many Sea Pen clients are surprised and delighted to learn they are supporting a local manufacturing business. The Sea Pen is very easy to use and many clients echo the sentiments of Kay from Mermaid Waters when she says,“The Sea Pen has been my/our saviour, from a boating relationship perspective as well as from the sheer ease of leaving the pontoon and returning to the pontoon in a very safe manner. I no longer need to hang off the side of the boat waiting to jump off to secure the boat with fenders and ropes.” No more frustration for Kay and her husband.
If you are ready to do less maintenance on your prized boat, then give Dockpro a call. For more information visit www.dockpro.com.au, or call the office on 5580 4465.
For those of you with smaller crafts, Dockpro The Gold Coast is the ‘home of Sea Pen’ and the have the FloatBricks modular docking system first production Sea Pens went on display at the allowing owners of jet skis, tinnies and small to Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) medium runabouts, offering the luxury of keeping their craft out of the water but ready to go at a moments notice. A High Density Polyethylene product line with above-industry standard UV stabilization, FloatBricks are built to last in the tough Australian environment. With the Sea Pen for larger boats and the FloatBricks for small vessels, Dockpro have a solution for all your boating needs. For those who already have a Sea Pen, the Dockpro team can help with a service check-up or to relocate your Sea Pen if you are moving homes.
BOATGOLDCOAST.COM. AU
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BOAT EVENTS
BLE ACH* FESTIVAL 2016 BROADENS ITS HORIZONS
F
rom 4 to 20 March 2016, Bleach* organisers will unleash the most ambitious and audacious program in the Festival’s five-year history as the annual cultural celebration spreads its artistic wings far and wide across the Gold Coast. “Beaches, parks and waterways will become ‘unconventional’ outdoor stages for performances, in a celebration of everything there is to love about the Gold Coast’s iconic beaches and outdoor lifestyle,” announced Louise Bezzina, artistic director of Bleach* Festival. “Our aim for Bleach* Festival 2016 is to create incredible and artistic moments in time, in the most unlikely places,” said Louise. “We will be challenging people’s perceptions of what art is and where it should be performed or displayed, with the Gold Coast’s natural environment and some of its best known landscapes having ‘starring roles’ in many of the Bleach* events in 2016.” Set around the Evandale Lake in the heart of the Gold Coast’s cultural precinct by the Nerang River, Horizons with Angels will be swathed in intensely beautiful music, and heightened by a mixture of physical daring and spell-binding light and projection. Horizon with Angels has been commissioned by Bleach* Festival and The Arts Centre Gold Coast and has been created by ‘Preposterous’. Preposterous is the brand new creative division of critically acclaimed Brisbane contemporary circus company and their visionary artistic director Yaron Lifschitz, co-director Ben Knapton, choreographer Alice Lee Holland and musical director Scott Saunders. Louise said Horizons with Angels signifies a new direction for Circa and Yaron Lifschitz, who was recently appointed the Cultural Lead of the Arts and Cultural Program for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. “Yaron’s work is exemplary, and has already been seen by more than half a million people in 33 countries around the world,” said Louise. Juxtaposed against the bright lights of Surfers Paradise and driven by the scale of multiple stages, Horizons with Angels will mirror the avant-garde style of previous Circa works, incorporating an innovative, genre-melding blend of acrobatics and movements.
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Along with Circa’s ‘Preposterous’ crew, Horizons with Angels will feature the voices of more than 200-strong choir of local Gold Coast school children, who will perform some of the haunting songs from legendary singer, Leonard Cohen. “The opportunity for these kids to perform in a world premiere, alongside a world-famous performance company such as Circa’s and music director Scott Saunders, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them and one they will never forget,” she said. The past year has been a whirlwind journey of growth and transition for Bleach* Festival. In late 2014, Bleach* Festival received endorsement by the City of Gold Coast as a significant component of the City’s cultural strategy and preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. To manage the burgeoning scale of Bleach* Festival, an independent operating company, Bleached Arts Ltd, has been created and new headquarters at Currumbin established to house the small but busy Bleach* Festival team. An enthusiastic and experienced board of directors led by former Arts Queensland head, Leigh Tabrett, was appointed, and general manager, Matt Wilson, now oversees the administration of the company. Louise said that Bleach* Festival is moving into a new era, now recognised on a national level for its role in building and enhancing the City’s reputation as a key cultural destination. Over the past year, Louise and the team have engaged with nationally acclaimed producers, artists and musicians, along with an army of local talent, to feature as part of the visionary program for Bleach* Festival 2016. The three-week festival will include eight world premieres, which Louise hopes will leave Gold Coasters captivated, inspired and immensely proud of their annual arts and culture festival, held right here in their own backyard. Louise declared, “Bleach* Festival is designed to be a platform for expression and curated to encourage community ownership and participation.” Please visit www.bleachfestival.com.au or www.theartscentregc.com.au for tickets and latest event information.
MODERN AUSTRALIAN CUISINE | WATERFRONT DINING EDGEWATERDINING.COM.AU
FRESH SEAFOOD | SASHIMI | FISH & CHIPS THEFISHEMPORIUM.COM.AU
ONLY A 5 MINUTE WALK FROM SURFERS PARADISE FULL HANDICAP ACCESS AND 275 FREE CARPARKS CAPRI ON VIA ROMA, ISLE OF CAPRI, QLD 4217
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Edgewater Dining & Lounge Bar 07 5570 1624 7 Days 8am till late Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
The Fish Emporium 07 5539 9257 Lunch | Dinner FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GALLEY
IT’S THE MACK SEASON! By Sally Jenyns
GOLD COAST SPANISH MACKEREL
As the weather warms up, the mackerel turn up. And better news is they are here to stay until Autumn! The best mackerel for eating are Spanish mackerel (sometimes known as narrow-barred mackerel for their striped skin pattern), but I’m not above enjoying fresh fillets from a spotted or school mackerel either. I’m not a fan of cutting mackerel into steaks as I think it produces a strong-tasting and often dry (overcooked) portion of fish. My preference is always to take those big meaty sides off the fish and diagonally slice off fillets, leaving the skin behind. A very simple preparation is tossing the fillets in basil pesto, and baking them with a stalk of baby truss tomatoes. Mackerel have healthy natural oils but cook into clean white flakes making them one of my Top 5 table species. In our house, mackerel is everyone’s favourite sashimi… but you’ve got to be quick or it’s all gone! But by far, my favourite way to enjoy this under-rated species, is to sauté it gently in foaming butter, and serve it with fresh lemon and cracked pepper….and a cold beer! When fishing for Spanish mackerel on the Gold Coast, a day trip to the reefs off Palm Beach and Burleigh Heads will not disappoint. The season is from December until the end of April after which time the mackerel will head north following the bait schools and the warmer currents. The closest ramps are at Currumbin Creek. Try trawling the area first and don’t be surprised if you catch mackerel between 5 and 10kg. Spanish mackerel’s common length is 50 cm to 80 cm with a max weight of about 30 kg. Min. size allowed is 75 cm with a bag limit of 3. School mackerel’s common length 50 cm to 80 cm with a max weight of about 8 kg. Min. size allowed is 50 cm with a possession limit of 10.
Sally Jenyns is a resident seafood cook and presenter on Channel 7’s Creek to Coast. She is the author of The Coastwatch Cookbook available at coastwatch.com.au.
SOUTHPORT YACHT CLUB Main Beach - Hollywell - South Stradbroke Island
BOATGOLDCOAST.COM. AU
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BOAT GALLEY
CHAMPAGNE INS AND OUTS
By Chris Morgan
Y
ou should think that you are awesome for buying Champagne. You have made a great choice and everyone will want to be your friend now. You should be safe in the knowledge that everything wrong will be right once again. Champagne does that.
WHY IS IT EXPENSIVE? Champagne is
from the Champagne region in France. The very unique soil and climate (terroir) coupled with centuries of refinement make a beautifully crafted product. The very cold climate poses numerous threats to harvest, and many vineyards lose up to 30 percent of fruit prior to harvest from frost and pests. The grapes that do survive are so delicate and complex that hand-harvesting is employed so as not to disturb the fruit. Massive effort and 2,000 years of refinement result in a weighty price tag. Primarily, Champagne is made of three grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. When you see Blanc de Blanc on the bottle, it only has Chardonnay, and if it says Pinot Blanc, it only has Pinot Noir. But it is not just fermented grapes in the bottle. There is history, love, hard work and a remarkable level of craftsmanship. Please consider all these things when drinking the winemakers’ blood, sweat and tears.
WHAT TO EAT WITH CHAMPAGNE
As with your cooking, remember to keep things balanced. Champagne does not like excesses. Too sweet, too acidic, too bitter, too spicy, or whatever, will not work. Any fish and crab will go smashingly with any sparkling. No curry or chili. I also find that dill that chefs garnish with will turn your champagne experience into a fit of rolling around then licking the drywall (watch out for insidious dill!). However, if you find that your favourite thing in the world is Moet and saltwater taffee, then do it. Forget the naysayers and ne’er do wells!
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HOW MUCH SHOULD I SPEND? The world of Champagne is vast, and your favourite is waiting for you. Starting at the top, Krug Champagne will set you back $400+ for a vintage, all the way down to some small producers creating champagne for $20. I suggest starting with a Bollinger for $79.99 as the proverbial toe in the water. The best thing to remember is that the more you spend, the finer the beadswill be—the smaller the beads, the smoother and higher-quality the Champagne. WHY DOES TOO MUCH SPARKLES GIVE ME A HEADACHE? The quickest
way known to man to give yourself a headache with Champagne is to drink it in a hot spa. Champagne is 12% alcohol volume and will do the same damage as red or white wine. It is, however, not as easy to overdo it with a vintage Champagne because you have to have considerable coin to open that second bottle of $280 lovely.
THAT’S NOT CHAMPAGNE!
WHAT IS THE PROPER SERVING TEMPERATURE? The general rule is 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. However, in the best place on earth—the sunny Goldie—serve it slightly cooler than the rule, as the ambient temperature will quickly heat the tasty loveliness before you drink it (especially if you are a jabberer and rabbit on, treating the glass like a microphone).
Champagne is from France, but it is made elsewhere too. In Italy, it is called Prosecco and has a great dry, bright flavour. In Australia, it is Sparkling White of the likes of Jansz, Croser and Chandon. There is another French amazing from the Burgundy and Alsace regions called Crémant. They do not carry a Ferrari price tag. For around $30, you can buy a beautiful French sparkle.
HOW LONG CAN I KEEP A BOTTLE OF SPARKLES OPEN? After opening a
WHICH CHAMPAGNE SHOULD I SMASH ON THE SIDE OF MY NEW BOAT?
bottle of sparkles, it will not last more than 24 hours. However, resealing quickly with a Champagne saver will keep the fizz longer—even up to three days. SPOON in the champagne to keep the fizz is an old wives’ tale. Stanford University chemist Richard Zare undertook an extracurricular investigation of the teaspoon’s preservative powers in 1994. The result: Zare and his fellow testers did not detect any boost in the sparkle of the spooned bottles. All aside, best drink the whole thing!
Bollinger! It does not have to be a new boat. I smash one on each launch. Make sure to buy two bottles!
HOW LONG CAN A SEALED BOTTLE BE KEPT? Champagne comes in
two categories: non-vintage (NV) and vintage. Nonvintage bubbles can be kept for three to four years, while vintage can be kept for five to ten years on average. A vintage stored well can last indefinitely. People show me their pride and joy, a bottle of 1979 non-vintage that they are saving. I hold back the tears, say nothing and just imagine it was a vintage.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF THE CHAMPAGNE IS CORKED OR OFF?
The Champagne region is in constant revision to prevent cork taint, described as resembling a moldy newspaper, wet dog, damp cloth, or damp basement (or just ewwww!). A Champagne that lacks beads (bubbles) and is dull on the palate is another sign of an inferior bottle. Sunlight and incandescent light are the enemies, along with loud noises and vibration. So do not yell at your sparkles!
Bollinger
Sancol Prosecco
Louis Bouillot
Chris’ Top 3 Champagnes / Méthode Champenoise To make a grand entrance into the world of Champagne, Chris suggests a Bollinger at $79.99 Chris next choice (price-wise) would be a Prosecco. A Sancol Prosecco at $22 is full of win and awesome. A Prosecco is a light, fun and non-serious drop that outsold non-vintage Champagne for the first time in Europe in 2015. Try a Louis Bouillot Cremant De Bourgogne. For $26, it will rock your wallet and palate. The bottle looks great on any table.
FEB - APR 2016
BOAT GUIDE
HAIR ON BOARD By R.T. Soler
eing regularly exposed to harsh environmental B elements, the hair is something that boaties often take for granted. Everyone talks about taking
care of the skin by protecting it with sunscreen, but how can we keep our hair healthy when living on a boat for days, weeks, or even permanently?
HAIR HEALTH
It is important to think of the health of your hair when you are out at sea or out on the water—whether you are on the boat or immersing yourself in the cool waters of the ocean. “Prolonged exposure to the elements—being saltwater, sun, and even the wind—can be very detrimental to a person’s hair due to the hair’s protein structure (keratin). These elements dehydrate the hair, reducing the elasticity and strength of the hair, ultimately causing the hair to weaken and be more prone to breakage,” explains Mandy Morgan, owner of Amara Organic Hair Salon in Burleigh. Likewise, Jessica King of Stefan Hairdressing emphasises, “Harsh environmental elements can result in dull, lifeless hair and a dry, irritated scalp. So being conscious of your hair health when out on the water is vital.”
HAIR PROBLEMS WHEN BOATING
“Unmanageable hair is a frequent problem faced by both men and women when out at sea due to unkind winds and salt in the air,” says Jessica. “Other common issues include dry hair and lack of moisture.” Mandy adds, “Sunburn to the scalp can also be a problem, causing the scalp to be dry, itchy and flakey. If you get a sunburnt scalp, use a sensitive range of shampoo and conditioner to help soothe and calm the scalp.” Whether sporting a long hair or a short one, women should address tangles while exposed to the ocean wind and waters. Jessica advises,
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“It is highly recommended for women with all hair lengths to brush a treatment through the midlengths of the hair after swimming to stop any knotting or tangling occurring.” For long hair, Jessica recommends tying it up when swimming and when in the sun. This will drastically reduce tangles and excessive exposure to UV rays. “Another way to care for your hair—and a fashionable one at that—is to wear a wide-brimmed hat for the ultimate protection from the sun and wind.” A tip for men out on the water is to wear a hat when in the sun. “It is critical for not only protecting your skin but also your hair,” says Jessica. She also recommends that men use an oil-based hair treatment after swimming and sun exposure to effectively moisturise and hydrate the hair and scalp. She emphasises that it is also fundamental for men to brush the scalp thoroughly to avoid dryness and itchiness.
minutes to strengthen and hydrate the hair. Apply a conditioner from roots to ends leaving in for a minimum of two to five minutes, to protect the scalp, help close the pores and the hair’s cuticle, and rebalance the hair’s PH level. Use heating tools no more than twice a week.” For hair washing, Jessica’s advice is to “use an oil-based shampoo and conditioner preferably those that contain certified organic coconut oil, to assist in replenishing moisture and nourishment back to your hair.”
HEALTHY HAIR WHILE BOATING
Both Jessica and Mandy suggest using hair protection when boating. Jessica says, “Use a heat-protector spray to protect hair from the damaging effects of UV rays and shield the hair from everyday environmental stresses. For treated and coloured hair, apply a leave-in treatment to your hair before and after swimming, to help lock in colour and restore much needed moisture.” Mandy also suggests applying leave-in moisturiser after washing the hair. “This will help balance the hair’s PH levels, and seal and protect the cuticle from any further damage.” Mandy further recommends a regular haircare regimen. “Rinse your hair throughout the day, especially after swimming or after being out in the elements. Always shampoo your hair twice. The first shampoo will cleanse the hair of any salt, sand, chlorine or hair-care product build-up. The second one should be left for a minimum of two to three
Regular treatment is also suggested. “Apply protein and/or moisture treatment to strengthen and hydrate your hair. Leave on from five to 20 minutes depending on the strength of the treatment. Do this once or twice a week,” according to Mandy. Mandy further advises that, “Anybody who spends a lot of time boating who is exposed to the elements on a regular basis should consult with a professional hairdresser to determine the current condition of the hair. A tailored home-care maintenance program can be advised that is specific to individual needs.”
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BOAT TECHNOLOGY
EVINRUDE G2 OUTBOARD OF THE FUTURE By Matt Jackson
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vinrude have been producing high quality outboard motors since 1909. They have been in the game a long time, and as a result are always looking for new ways to improve their engines. The G2 seems to be no exception to that mission. Evinrude has set out to improve on the technology of their first generation of E-Tec engines with an emphasis on ease of use, reliability and low maintenance—matters of great importance to anyone when out on the water. Evinrude are pretty much the last of the major outboard manufacturers who continue to develop 2-stroke technology, which is a much more difficult task than improving on the easier to develop 4-stroke engines, albeit a much more fruitful task in the long run. Riley Tolmay, After-Sales manager APAC at BRP, the distributor of Evinrude in Australia, says, “Evinrude have acquired technology that allows us to see inside of the combustion chamber while the motor is running. And, this in turn has
allowed us to understand what is going on in this crucial phase of the power cycle. This insight has allowed Evinrude to maintain superior power along with 25 percent fuel savings compared to any other best-in-class brand outboard motors with the equivalent horse-power rating.” Developing a futuristic 2-stroke engine means that if you do pull it off, it will have almost double the power strokes that a 4-stroke has—meaning greater acceleration with more low-end torque—a feat that Evinrude have accomplished here. Tolmay confirms, “Generally, the E-Tec acceleration is superior, and in most cases the top speed is either as good as or better than the 4-Stroke option.” The simplicity of a 2-stroke engine means less working parts, making it a simpler engine that is lighter, easier to maintain and is more reliable. “E-Tec technology offers superior attributes to the end consumer translating to substantial savings. In some cases, thousands of dollars can be saved. The main features being a five-year warranty, a five-year 500-hours no-scheduled maintenance, whichever comes first. This technology offers first class power and performance with best-in-class fuel economy,” Tolmay points out.
Designed in-house at Evinrude’s Innovation Center headed by Denys Lapointe in Quebec, Canada, the overall aesthetics of this new engine are attractive to the eye—your first example of the futuristic aspects this engine can offer. And mind you, first impressions last. The engine itself in the 250HP version is a 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 made as efficient as possible through Evinrude’s many innovations, which also extend to its steering system. Their Dual Axis Rigging system is integrated into one complete unit with an electronic steering mechanism described by the company as an intergrated powerassisted hydraulic steering for maximum response. combined with speed sensors that manipulate the steering effort necessary depending on the speed, determining your steering needs automatically. The E-Tec G2 range of 200HP to 300HP in 20” to 30” shafts are now available in Australia. Tolmay states, “The G2 has been very well accepted. The look and fuel economy are its two main attributes, closely backed up by the low maintenance costs.” The end result is an attractive engine that is simple, efficient, practical, easy to maintain, reliable and incredibly responsive in both acceleration and manoeuvrability.
BOAT NEWS
ANNOUNCEMENT - NEW GOLD COAST WATERWAYS AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBERS
NATIONALISATION OF BOATING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (BIA)
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n 27 November 2015, three new members have been appointed to the GCWA board Mara Bun has been appointed to the board as chairperson, and Richard Holliday and Leslie Shirreffs have been endorsed as board members. Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports Minister Mark Bailey said the new appointments would reinvigorate the board. “I am confident the skills the new board members bring will provide new vision and effective leadership to assist the GCWA deliver on its objectives,” he said. A gazette notice detailing the appointments was published on November 27, 2015. Three existing members were reappointed, with all appointments due to be reevaluated before November 30, 2017.
MARINE INDUSTRY FOUNDATION LAUNCHED
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he Marine Industry Foundation (MIF) was launched on 25 November 2015 at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
The Foundation was first discussed in 2014 by former MIA Chair and Director Jeff D’Albora, and a unanimous support from the Boards of MIA and the Boating Industry Alliance Australia (BIAA) led to the establishment of the Marine Industry Foundation Pty Ltd (MIF). BIAA Chairman Darren Vaux said the Foundation will be seeking support from both the marine industry and the boating community. The Foundation has been established to broaden community access to the benefits of recreational boating and to assist employment within the marine industry. 60
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he Boating Industry Association (BIA) of New South Wales and South Australia announcement of the appointment of Howard Glenn as National Chief Executive Officer, has also indicated the move for the nationalisation of the BIA. Alan Blake, President of the Boating Industry Association of NSW & SA said, “Our work with the Boards of the BIA of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia has made some positive and significant steps in recent months to expedite the nationalisation of the BIA. Queensland and Northern Territory will be formally incorporated into the group imminently, with Western Australian discussions moving positively with the hope that will be finalised early in the new year.” This process of the national amalgamation is not new, with discussion about improving efficiencies and creating a united industry body on the table for almost 10 years. Darren Vaux, chairman of the Boating Industries Alliance Australia (BIAA) said, “The nationalisation of the BIA will see the current national body morphed into the new national and amalgamated BIA, with a restructure to help deliver better results for industry. Howard Glenn is the person that will oversee this transformation and drive our industry through its work in the future”. With the ongoing effort for the national amalgamation of the state Association bodies, the Board of Directors identified the need to appoint a national CEO to continue the positive work done to date, and build a harmonious, efficient and fit for purpose industry body for the benefit of its industry members and the recreational boating lifestyle. FEB - APR 2016
BOAT ENVIRONMENT
NARROWNECK REEF
Copying Nature To Help Keep Our Sand On Our Beaches By Maggie Muurmans, Griffith Centre for Coastal Management
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id you know that just off shore at Narrowneck is a reef? A different type of reef you may be familiar with such as a coral reef or a sunken ship wreck. This reef in Narrowneck has been created to help us keep a precious resource plentiful—that resource is sand. It also provides us with some great surfing opportunities along the way! The coastline is a dynamic system. It is always changing. The Gold Coast is vulnerable to major storms that wash away vast quantities of sand, causing severe erosion to the shoreline that can threaten the dunes, and—in the past—houses and other human structures. During periods of stable weather, lost sand will eventually return to the beach to repair the damage done. But this takes time and a series of storms can be devastating and costly to the community in providing emergency beach repairs. The City of Gold Coast has world renowned beaches and the community recognises the value
Storm erosion before construction of the reef in March 1996
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our beaches provide for our social, economic and environmental wellbeing. It is not desirable to lose a lot of sand in one go, and places like Narrowneck are particularly vulnerable to storm damage and severe loss of sand. In order to protect the beaches further north from Narrowneck from losing too much sand, a number of studies in the 1990’s suggested that the creation of an artificial reef would help protect this part of the coast. A number of options of artificial reef types were studied and a preferred design was chosen. The final design was in the shape of a split “v”. This design was excellent at intercepting and slowing the movement of sand northwards along the beach and also slowing the amount of wave energy that has the potential for removing sand from the beach during storm events. This ‘reef’ was to be created out of sand-filled bags. These were not your ordinary sandbags, but are specialised fabric bags, 20 metres by 4.5 metres in size. The scale of this
Invertebrate Cover at Narrowneck Artificial Reef (Photo: Ian Banks)
project required a special barge to be positioned by Global Positioning Systems (GPS) so that the bags could be accurately placed on the sea floor. The work on the reef commenced in August 1999 and was completed by December 2000. Some 400 ‘mega’ bags were filled with sand and placed in the split “v” formation on the sea floor creating an artificial reef, 450 meters long by 250 meters wide. Once the ’reef’ was put in position, extensive ocean and beach surveys have been carried out to ensure that the original objectives have been achieved. Happily, this initiative appears to be very successful with sand loss on the beaches being reduced over the years since its creation. There has been the additional bonus of creating a whole new habitat. This new artificial reef habitat is now thriving with all sorts of marine life, including corals, fish and turtles calling Narrowneck home.
Southern Yellowtail Scad on the reef (Photo: Ian Banks)
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BOAT GOLD COAST
LATEST AND GREATEST ON SHOW AT SCIBS NEW BOATYARD
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oating enthusiasts should prepare to be spoiled for choice at this year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS), with the introduction of exciting new zones including The Boatyard, a dedicated sport and trailer boat precinct boasting all the latest models in one entertainment-filled location.
Alongside all manner of trailerable craft including ski boats, performance RIBS and much more, the precinct will also feature a great range of entertainment including live fishing and tackle demonstrations, and is expected to be one of the most popular fixtures of this year’s program. “Feedback from our sport boat and trailer-boat exhibitors showed they are keen to display their boats in a specific location, which makes it easier for visitors to see them all at once, compare brands and models and take their time,” said SCIBS general manager Johan Hasser. Back on dry land but equally as exciting, SCIBS will also present Supercar Street in 2016, another dedicated product precinct promising to deliver a “show within the show” to visitors. “With The Boatyard featuring everything from skiboats and performance RIBS, to trailerboats fitted out for angling or diving, and Supercar Street showcasing the most impressive luxury vehicles on the road, visitors are set to be wowed,” Mr Hasser said. “We will also be investing in theming, custom flooring and an eye-catching portal to evoke visitors’ imaginations. There will be stalls, stages and entertainment, adding to the atmosphere.” Supercar Street will see SCIBS further drive its reputation for showcasing the ultimate in luxury living, with a range of sports, convertible, luxury, prestige and supercars to be on display in their own zone. Exhibitors will display the hottest performance models on the market, with an expanded showcase to complement the always spectacular display from major sponsor Maserati EuroMarque Brisbane.
SCIBS has announced an array of changes and improvements to its 2016 Show, including dedicated new product precincts and a reworked layout set to enhance the visitor experience while maximising visibility for exhibitors and improving flow through exhibition spaces at the renowned international marine event, running from May 19 to 22. The Boatyard is set to be a big drawcard for recreational boaties and those looking to invest in new craft, with visitors able to peruse the newest releases from the world’s top marine brands, spread over 1600sqm of prime display space located close to the iconic waterfront George’s Paragon Restaurant and adjacent to C Pier, also allowing exhibitors to offer sea trials to prospective buyers.
Andrew Bennett, dealer principal at Queensland Marine Centre and a SCIBS exhibitor since 1996, said he was looking forward to representing classic US brands, Sea Ray and Boston, at The Boatyard. “For visitors, it’s a logical way of seeing everything in one place and not missing a thing. For exhibitors like us, who invest a lot in our displays, we benefit from the theming and additional spotlight on our boats,” said Mr Bennett.“The atmosphere of The Marine Village, access to accommodation, dining, bars and the beautiful landscape—it’s all there. It’s the perfect venue to demonstrate the joys of the boating lifestyle.” The Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, now in its 28th year, is endorsed by Tourism & Events Queensland as an iconic Queensland annual fixture. It is also a member of the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO), and considered one of the world’s premier trade and consumer boat shows. Running from May 19 to 22, 2016, the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show attracts close to 40,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors to a spectacular showcase, featuring hundreds of boats and thousands of marine products across four days. SCIBS 2016 offers FREE park ‘n’ ride services from Warner Bros. Movie World, along with limited on-site parking, available pre-paid. Visit www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au to find out more.
Mr Hasser said The Boatyard and Supercar Street are just some of the exciting initiatives the SCIBS team is introducing in 2016. Among other changes, the renowned Superyacht and Marine Pavilion will relocate alongside the Main Pavilion, encouraging foot traffic through an engaging display of Australian-made products, global service providers and the industry’s favourite gears and gadgets. “Like all events, boat shows need to evolve and improve in order to provide a strong return on investment for exhibitors and continue to provide an even better experience for visitors,” Mr Hasser said. “We have worked closely with our sponsors, partners and exhibitors to build on the success of last year’s Show to implement some exciting changes to SCIBS 2016 that will benefit exhibitors and visitors alike.”
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